€17m needed to follow through on Cork City Council’s electric vehicle programme

A capital investment in the region of €17m will be required to complete an electric vehicle charging programme agreed by Cork city councillors last June.

Green Party councillor Honore Kamegni had asked the executive for an update on the progress of EV charging point installation across the city at Monday night’s council meeting.

The recently completed Cork City Council EV charging strategy aims to have 200 normal charging, 39 fast-charging, and 550–700 individual charging points across the city by 2030.

Paul Moynihan, Cork City Council’s director of local area development and operations, said that they are working on the strategy.

“There are approximately 50 locations in the city where EV drivers can avail of charging facilities with nine charge point providers.

“The majority are destination charging, but the provision has increased somewhat from the original 13 sites which were provided in the city by ESB E-cars, which included locations at the Black Ash park and ride and Paul St car park.”

“Cork City Council is actively engaging with Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) with respect to the implementation of the Cork City Council Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy.”

The council recently received confirmation from the Department of Transport for the approval for a new post to steer the implementation of the electric vehicle charging strategy, and the council will now seek sanction for this post through the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage.

Mr Moynihan said that following recruitment, an implementation plan can commence which will set out the delivery pathway.

“It is estimated that a capital investment of approximately €17m will be required to undertake the programme, including procurement of specialist contractor/s to operate the service.

“Delivery of charging points will require availability of energy capacity and connections to enable the sites, the availability of civil/electrical contractors to complete the works, and stakeholder engagement on a site specific basis.”