Building Ireland's EV Future: EV Charging with Better Data

Planning an EV journey today involves more than simply finding the nearest charge point.  

Drivers increasingly want to know whether a charger is available, how powerful it is, whether it is accessible, what it costs to use and whether they can pay easily before they even leave home. 

Behind this experience, is data. 

Accurate, reliable and real-time information is becoming as important to the EV recharging network as the physical infrastructure itself. 

As Ireland's recharging network continues to grow, ensuring that information is shared consistently between charge point operators, providers and platforms is becoming increasingly important.  

That's why Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has established the Alternative Fuels Data Office to deliver the digital foundations that will support the next generation of EV recharging services. 

Why recharging data matters 

When drivers arrive at a recharging station, they increasingly expect to know in advance whether a charger is available, what connector types are provided, how powerful the charger is, what payment options are accepted and whether the site is accessible. 

Providing this information consistently across Ireland requires common standards for how recharging data is collected, managed and shared. 

The Alternative Fuels Data Office has been established to help make this possible by supporting the collection and exchange of recharging infrastructure data in line with European standards.  

In addition to supporting data exchange, the Alternative Fuels Data Office also helps improve data quality, ensuring that charging information is accurate, reliable and consistent across the sector. 

This will help ensure that information about Ireland's public recharging network is more accurate, more accessible and easier for drivers and digital service providers to use. 

The work is also supporting Ireland's obligations under the European Union's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which requires Member States to make EV charging data available in a standardised and accessible way. 

Building the systems behind the network 

A key responsibility of the Data Office is the delivery of Ireland's new Data Exchange Platform (DXP). 

The DXP will provide a secure, standardised way for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) to share information about publicly accessible recharging infrastructure using the internationally recognised Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) standard.  

The platform supports the management and sharing of data relating to thousands of public charging points across Ireland, helping create a more complete and consistent picture of the national recharging network. 

The platform will make charging data discoverable and enable it to be shared with Ireland's National Access Point, supporting open access to information as required under AFIR. 

While most drivers will never interact directly with the platform, they will benefit from the improved digital services it enables, from more accurate charging maps and navigation systems to better journey planning and more reliable information about charging locations, whether accessed through vehicle navigation systems, mobile applications or other digital services. 

Supporting an interoperable charging ecosystem 

Alongside the Data Exchange Platform, the Alternative Fuels Data Office is also responsible for operating Ireland's Identification Registration Organisation (IDRO). 

Under AFIR, every Charge Point Operator (CPO) and eMobility Service Provider (eMSP) must have a unique identifier to support interoperability across Europe's charging ecosystem. As Ireland's designated IDRO, TII issues and manages these identifiers, helping ensure that charging providers can interact consistently and efficiently with other market participants throughout Europe. 

Although this work takes place behind the scenes, it is fundamental to creating a connected recharging network where different operators, service providers and digital platforms can work together seamlessly. 

Preparing Ireland for the next phase of electric mobility 

The establishment of the Alternative Fuels Data Office marks an important milestone in the evolution of Ireland's EV recharging network. 

As recharging infrastructure expands across the country, the systems that support it must also evolve. Reliable, open and standardised data will help improve the charging experience for drivers, support innovation by digital service providers, and enable policymakers to better understand how the network is growing, support evidence-based infrastructure planning and identify where future investment is needed. 

Together with the rollout of recharging infrastructure and the implementation of new European standards, the work of the Data Office is helping lay the digital foundations for a smarter, more connected and more user-focused recharging network for Ireland. 

Find out more

Organisations involved in Ireland's EV charging ecosystem can find guidance on registering as a Charge Point Operator or eMobility Service Provider, connecting to the Data Exchange Platform, and understanding AFIR data requirements through the Alternative Fuels Data Office resources available https://www.zevi.ie/alternative-fuels-data-office