Almost 60 electric vehicle charging points in Cork

THE transition to Electric vehicles (EVs) is being made easier thanks to a range of Government supports, a Fine Gael Senator has claimed.

Cork Senator Tim Lombard said that, for a country of its size, Ireland is one of the more comprehensive charge point networks currently in place across Europe.

“The latest numbers for Cork show we have 58 standard charge points and seven fast chargers,” the senator said.

“In May 2017, the Government approved and published the National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017 to 2030. This policy framework sets an ambitious target that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero emissions (or zero emissions capable),” he added.

A real-time map showing the charge points is available on the ESB’s website at www.esb. ie/ecars.

An electric vehicle home charger grant was introduced in early 2018 to assist homeowners install an electric vehicle charge point on their property.

This scheme will provide a grant up to the value of €600 towards the purchase and installation of a home charger unit.

SEAI is offering grants of up to €5,000 for a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) purchased and registered in Ireland.