The public consultation was open from May 30 to 4pm on June 30 and is now closed. We sincerely thank all participants for their valuable contribution.
Background Information
The Local Authorities of Region 6, encompassing Cork County Council and Kerry County Council are collaborating to develop a Regional Electric Vehicle Charge Point Strategy. Region 6 comprises of Kerry and Cork County only; the Draft Cork City Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy is a separate initiative. The goal of these strategies is to consider the challenges and opportunities in deploying EV charging infrastructure in alignment with the National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025, and the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. This stage is focused on strategy development; the installation and rollout of chargers does not form part of this phase.
Figure 1: EV Strategy Region Map
Cork and Kerry have decided to collaborate on their EV strategy due to their extensive shared border and similar geographic features, characterised by peninsulas and the Atlantic coastline. Both counties boast large road networks and significant rural hinterlands, along with several notable towns. A substantial portion of the population in both local authorities resides in rural areas outside the main towns, resulting in a high reliance on cars as the primary mode of transportation. Additionally, both counties attract large numbers of tourists, who will have specific needs for destination charging.
National Strategy
The National EV Strategy aims to create a seamless and efficient charging experience for EV users. While en-route charging refers to the installation of charging stations along national roads and travel routes, the regional plan focuses on the development of EV charging infrastructure within specific regions. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is handling the development and implementation of en-route charging separately from the Regional Plan.
Figure 2: National EV Charging Network Plan
Regional Plan
The Regional Plan considers the distinct needs and attributes of each area, such as population density, travel patterns, and existing infrastructure. The plan aims to create a network of charging stations that are strategically located to maximise accessibility and convenience for EV users. By tailoring the charging infrastructure to the specific needs of each region, the plan ensures that all areas are adequately served and can support the growing number of EVs on the road.
Regional Power Targets
Minimum charging capacity requirements have been identified in the regional plan to meet both the targets set out by the EU in the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation and the expected demand for public charging. Power requirements are divided among the local authority areas based on the number of vehicles in each area. The kW output targets for Region 6 (Cork and Kerry County Councils) are outlined below.
| County | 2025 | 2030 |
| Kerry | 5691 | 18647 |
| Cork | 12454 | 40955 |
Table 1: EV charging capacity requirements by 2025 and 2030
Destination and Neighbourhood Charging
The Regional Plan focuses on destination and neighbourhood charging to create a comprehensive charging network that supports the daily needs of EV users. These charging types will help guide us in the development of regional EV charging infrastructure.
- Destination charging involves installing charging stations at popular destinations such as shopping centres, hotels, and tourist attractions.
- Neighbourhood charging focuses on providing charging options within residential areas, making it easy for EV users to charge their vehicles at home or nearby locations.
More Information
To read the National EV Strategy and the Regional Plan, please visit https://www.zevi.ie/publications.
For information on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)’s work to develop en-route charging on the National Road Network, visit www.tii.ie/evscheme.
