A new plan could see EV charging points at every 60 kms along Ireland's motorway network.
The National Road EV (Electric Vehicle) Charging Network Plan, launched by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, sets out the ambition for delivery of EV charging on the national road network.
It includes a pool of high-powered chargers as well as home and apartment charging, destination charging and residential neighbourhood charging.
Trinity College Dublin Professor in Transportation Brian Caulfield told Newstalk Breakfast the plans should be in place by the end of the decade.
"In this plan what they're looking at is to put fast EV charging every 60 kms along the motorway network," he said.
"Also in neighbourhoods to put a neighbourhood charging [point] for households that don't have access to a driveway, and to put all these charging units in over towards the end of the decade.
"They don't put in a specific number of chargers that they're going to put in but they put in the power that they're going to supply to the country in these chargers".
'Growth in electric vehicles'
Prof Caulfield said he believes the plan will alleviate so-called range anxiety for EV drivers.
"I think we've about 2,500 [EV charging units] at the moment; we've about 121,000 electric vehicles," he said.
"So in terms of a ratio that's not great when you look at other countries throughout Europe - but it can only help.
"This plan is much more focused in that it's looking at where the growth is going to be in electric vehicles.
"It's going to focus investment in those places".
An electric car charging, 22-8-21. Image: Leonora Oates / AlamyProf Caulfield said the neighbourhood plan could see an area where people could leave their car charging overnight.
"Another solution that they're also looking at, or research that we've done at least in Trinity, was using street lights and to connect to those to have a slower trickle charge into the car".
Prof Caulfield said all European countries are starting to see an EV sales slowdown.
"There was a bit of a backlash in terms of the second-hand market and there was lots of cheaper Chinese electric cars coming into the market," he said.
"That saw a lot of the Volkswagens and Teslas reduce their prices.
"We saw in the first quarter of this year our sales were down 20% on the previous year.
"If we're to meet the targets in the Climate Action Plan of the million electric vehicles and 50% reduction in emissions we need to be up 20%."
Prof Caulfield added that he believes a target of 30% of electric vehicles by 2030 is "very ambitious."
