Building a National Charging Network for All: A Regional and Local Approach
As the uptake on electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow, questions around public infrastructure remain, particularly in relation to concerns that some parts of the country may be left behind.
For many drivers, especially those living outside major cities, confidence in public charging availability remains one of the biggest factors influencing the switch to electric.
Questions about regional coverage, long distance travel and neighbourhood charging (particularly for those without access to private parking) are all part of a wider discussion about how Ireland can build a charging network that works for all.
That challenge is what our Regional and local EV Charging Network Plan is aiming to address.
Why public investment matters
In many areas, particularly urban centres, commercial operators are already investing in EV charging infrastructure, but not every location is commercially viable in the early stages of EV adoption.
Without targeted public investment, some communities, risk slower infrastructure development and reduced access to public charging.
The Regional and Local EV Charging Network plan is designed to help address those gaps by directing investment where it is most needed, ensuring that charging infrastructure develops in a more balanced, equitable way across the country. The goal is not simply to increase the number of chargers overall, but to improve confidence that people can access charging infrastructure regardless of where they live by ensuring the installation of the right charger, for the right purpose, in the right location, to meet user needs.
Equity of access is a key objective
One of the central pillars of the plan is equity of access.
That means recognising that Ireland’s transition to electric must also work for people living in apartments, rural communities, commuter towns and regional areas.
Public charging plays an important role particularly for those households without access to private parking, apartment residence, rural and regional drivers travelling longer distances and visitors and tourists.
The Plan aims to support a network that is accessible, practical and geographically distributed so that EV ownership becomes a viable option for more citizens across Ireland.
A National Infrastructure for All
While cities will continue to play a major role in EV adoption, the transition cannot be concentrated only in urban centres. Ireland’s public charging network must support drivers travelling between counties, connecting regional economies and accessing communities across the country.
That is why the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan focuses specifically on infrastructure in cities, towns and villages nationwide as well as key tourism and visitor locations.
The Plan is complementary to the National Road EV Charging Plan, which focuses on expanding high powered charging infrastructure along motorways, TEN-T routes and national roads.
Together, these plans form the National EV Charging Network Plan and are intended to create a more connected charging network that supports both daily charging and long-distance travel needs.
Public charging complements home charging
While public charging receives significant attention, it is important to note that home charging remain the primary method (approx. 80%) for EV charging in Ireland. For households with access to off street parking, charging overnight at home continues to be the most convenient and cost-effective option in many cases.
As such, public infrastructure is intended to complement home charging rather than replace it.
A strong public network aims to support people while on long distance travel or visiting destinations while away from home or access to a home charger and may require a comfort top up.
The regional and Local Plan aims to provide a charging solution that aligns with their parallel activities. Together home and public charging will form part of a broader network to support the growing number of EVs on our roads.
A Step Forward
Ireland’s EV charging network is still developing, and challenges remain around the pace of rollout, grid capacity and user experience.
The Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan represents an important step towards a planned EV Infrastructure delivery with user needs as a core consideration while considering commercial sensitivities. As EV adoption continues to grow, public infrastructure will play an increasingly important role in building confidence, convenience and accessibility to support Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles.
