Limerick is set for a €20m electric car charging infrastructure investment as part of an initiative that the city and county council says will be “one of the first of its kind in Ireland”.
The contract will cover the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of electric car chargers at 12 sites initially as part of a pilot project aimed at ensuring the infrastructure in the city and county “remains ahead of demand”.
Most of the 12 sites indicated in the tender are understood to be in the Limerick city area.
Under the envisaged contract, the charging points shall be open to the public at all times, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Furthermore, a customer billing service and 24-hour customer support must be made available.
“Limerick City and County Council, through the development of this Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy, is taking a proactive approach to assessing the expected power requirements on the network and determining the necessary number of charge points needed to support the growing number of electric vehicles across Limerick,” it previously said.
While its pilot EV charging project will create these locations around Limerick city and county, the council has also said it aims to deliver “residential home charging solutions” also.
“This initiative is one of the first of its kind in Ireland and will serve as a valuable learning experience, not only for Limerick but also for other local authorities across the country,” it said.
“We are excited to trial innovative ideas and technologies, which will help shape the future of electric mobility in our region and beyond.”
“As the EV infrastructure expands it is envisaged that additional sites may come on board following the initial contract,” the council said.
“This may involve assessments of potential sites, integration into the existing network, and ensuring that each new site meets the standard requirements for accessibility, safety, and technical compatibility.”
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said that a new national plan on charging infrastructure on Irish roads is toi be published this month.
“It makes provision for banks of EV chargers every 60km on the TEN-T motorway and national primary road network – which will support the connectivity of remote areas,” he said in response to a recent parliamentary question.
“This plan also includes provision of high-power charge points every 30km on the national secondary roads by 2025.”