Cork to get eight more electric vehicle recharging hubs

Cork is to receive eight new recharging hubs to service the expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet across Ireland’s national road network, minister for transport Darragh O’Brien has announced.

Almost €10m will be allocated to support grants for recharging infrastructure at 90 selected sites across Ireland, to deliver 192 fast recharging points, with an average capacity of typically 250kW, along the national primary and secondary road network.

The announcement is part of a wider plan to build a reliable recharging network across the country, with the distance between recharging hubs envisaged as 30km or less.

The eight Cork locations include four on the N71 — the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery, Cronin’s Centra in Ballylickey, Field’s Supervalu in Skibbereen, and Kevin O’Leary’s in Bandon.

Banteer community sportsfield and park, Herlihy’s Centra in Mallow, and O’Riordans Supervalu in Fermoy, all along the N72, are also to receive charging points, as is Kildorrery Centra on the N73. They are expected to be in place by March next year.

“Together, these schemes aim to ensure that drivers across Ireland will have reliable access to high-powered charging, making the transition to electric practical and convenient,” said Mr O’Brien.

“Importantly, this investment will also bring high-quality, high-powered EV charging to more rural locations, helping to promote local economies, support tourism, and strengthen regional development.”

The recharging hubs are funded through the Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) initiative operated by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) and delivered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

This phase of the initiative focused on over 2,900km of primary and secondary roads. Enterprises such as petrol/service station operators, car-park owners, hotels, supermarkets/retail outlets, and others with publicly-accessible sites could apply through a competitive grant process for funding.

The total allocation for this Light Duty Vehicle Phase 3 scheme is €9.9m. This is part of the wider ZEVI National Road Network EV Charging Plan, which previously awarded grant funding to deliver 149 new high-power recharging points at 19 locations along the motorway/dual-carriageway network, and 175 fast and ultra-fast recharging points at 53 locations along the national road network.

This LDV Phase 3 EV recharging infrastructure is envisaged to be available for public use by the end of the first quarter of 2026.