No funding for charge points sees EV rage grow in County Wexford
A Wexford Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure campaigner has called for a common-sense approach when rolling out an upcoming EV strategy for Co Wexford.
Thomas McGuire hails from Wexford and changed his petrol 2002 Nissan Primera for a Nissan Leaf in 2016. He subsequently invested in a Tesla Model 3 and has never looked back.
Driving forward (for long distances) is the problem.
As secretary of the Irish EV Association Thomas is acutely aware of the problems facing EV drivers.
In a series of questions to Wexford County Council, this publication has been updated about plans for EV charging points in the county and the impediments in the way.
As it stands there is currently no EV plan drafted by the council, a spokesperson said. “There was a draft EV Strategy done in 2020. Wexford County Council is presently updating our strategy to the latest national strategy prepared by the Government. (Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025). The new strategy for Co Wexford is expected to be complete in Q1 or Q2 of 2025.”
The council confirmed that on-street charging options will be considered further in the strategy and when the government makes funding available.
Mr McGuire said: “We would hope to see a common-sense approach to the issue of on-street charging, taking advantage of existing installations where available, e.g. street lights, and enabling other internationally proven alternatives to be utilised – wherein homeowners can themselves resolve the issue of being a stone’s throw from home charging, e.g. Kerbo Charge (cross-pavement) or ChargeArm (over-pavement).
“We do not wish to see individuals feel compelled to convert front gardens to car parking, or lengthy challenges as occurred with domestic solar panel installations.”
The council spokesperson said no national funding is available for the rollout of more echarging points this year.
“Wexford County Council had installed more than 20 charge points for the council’s fleet. There has been no national funding made available to Wexford County Council for public charge points. There is no national funding available to be applied for by local authorities. There has been funding available of €5,000 per charge point for EV owners who don’t have access to a private parking space, for local authorities to apply for. Wexford has never applied for this grant as no one, or no group of people, have requested Wexford County Council to do so.”
Over the past year the council has received three queries about EV charging points from EV users in Co Wexford.
In recent times the Hook Lighthouse EV charging point has become operational. “Carrigfoyle is ducted but chargers have not been installed.”
When asked how many charging hubs and street charging locations have been identified by council staff, the spokesperson said: “The precise number has not been identified. It is acknowledged that urban locations in excess of 1,000 people may require access charging hubs or street charging locations. Smaller villages with tourism attractions may also require chargers.
“In general towns/villages with less than 1,000 people have access to off street parking and it is logical to assume they will charge at home. The EV charge point strategy will further develop potential locations.”
Destination chargers are planned for high traffic tourist areas, however no Government funding has been offered to local authorities to date to install chargers.
“When funding is made available and when the county’s strategy is complete, Wexford County Council will most likely seek expressions of interest from charge point operators to operate bundles of charge points within the county.”
The council spokesperson said to effectively rollout enough charge points to meet the needs of local residents and visitors to the county funding and identifying where the demand is, are the main considerations.
Mr McGuire said: “We would agree that Wexford, and indeed other county councils, should seek to engage with charge point operators on the roll out of chargers that they [the councils] are best placed to enable, as we have seen done by Mayo, Waterford and Carlow county councils. This has seen installations of facilities at previously unserved, or under-served, locations throughout those counties.
“Wexford County Council already has a selection of popular sites available to it for this with parking facilities, including beaches and parks. Should Wexford County Council seek further feedback on locations or surveys of owners which may assist, we’re happy to help.”