National strategy needed to ensure the proper distribution of EV Charge Points – Lombard

We need a national plan to ensure the proper distribution of Charge Points for Electric Vehicles, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard welcomed funding to support the rollout by local authorities of up to 1,000 on-street public charge points for electric vehicles over the next 5 years. This new scheme will support the widespread roll out of electric vehicles.

Senator Lombard said: “I am very pleased to see this new scheme announced by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton.

“The Minister launched the Climate Action Plan earlier this year and has committed to a target of 936,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030. Ensuring there is the necessary infrastructure in place to support this step up is crucial.

“People in rural Ireland need to be reassured that they won’t be left with a flat battery when driving in the country. We need a national strategy to ensure EV charge points have a good geographical spread across the country, as well as in the towns and cities.

“It makes sense for this to be coordinated centrally as opposed to leaving it to local authorities to work in isolation on it.

“I plan to raise this with Minister Bruton at the first opportunity.

“If the people of rural Ireland are to buy in to electric vehicles, they need to be reassured that they will work as effectively in rural Ireland as well as they do in urban areas.”