Electric vehicle (EV) charging points are needed more in urban and suburban areas than the motorway, according to one car expert. 

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has proposed a new plan that will see EV charging points every 60km on Irish motorways.   

The National Road EV (Electric Vehicle) Charging Network Plan 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. 

Completecar.ie Editor Shane O'Donoghue said more EV charging points are necessary for motorways, but also beyond them. 

“The motorways are probably okay in the number of charging places we have,” he told The Hard Shoulder. 

“That [policy] comes from the EU – it has to happen across Europe. 

“Far more important [for Ireland], I would suggest, is we have them everywhere. 

“Almost any EV driver that has to use the public network would say that they regularly have to wait, especially on the busy motorway. 

“We need EV charging points everywhere – or everywhere you park your car.” 

EV charging points across Ireland

Mr O’Donoghue pointed out that drivers of diesel or petrol cars can easily fill up their car within minutes. 

EV drivers, on the other hand, need far more coordination if they want to get from point A to point B on a full battery. 

“The easiest thing is [charging] overnight or during the day at work,” he said. 

“But if you’re travelling or doing daily chores you need [EV charging points] everywhere – the gym, the shops, multi-storey car parks. 

“We need them more in urban and suburban areas more than we need them on motorways.” 

The car expert wasn’t too optimistic about the installation of new EV charging points. 

“It seems to be taking forever and this new big announcement by Eamon Ryan today – I'm just frustrated about it, to be honest,” he said. 

As of 2023, Ireland has over 2,100 public charging points. 

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