Public power points for electric cars by next year

MOTORISTS should be able to power up electric cars from public charging points in most major towns and cities within a year, the ESB announced yesterday.

Owners of electric vehicles (EVs) will be able to plug in and recharge car batteries at various locations under a smart-card payment system being planned by the electricity company.

ESB chief executive Padraig McManus said it would also provide special sockets needed to charge such batteries to householders as part of a €20 million pilot programme to develop infrastructure for the wider introduction of EVs in the Republic’s car market.

It comes as the Government yesterday announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the ESB and car-maker Renault-Nissan to facilitate the expansion of EVs.

The deal with the Renault-Nissan group should see electric models from both car manufacturers launched in Ireland by the end of 2010.

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said such measures would help the Government meet its target of electric vehicles constituting 10% of the Irish car market by 2020 — a figure equivalent to around 250,000 EVs.

“The initiative will transform our streets, will cut our carbon emissions and change the face of transport in Ireland,” said Mr Ryan.

The minister, who arrived at a press conference on a bicycle, said the collaboration between the Government, the ESB and car manufacturers like Renault-Nissan allowed Ireland to be at the forefront of a green revolution in sustainable transport. He stressed that he hoped to make similar arrangements with other car manufacturers.

Mr McManus said the ESB would introduce fast-charging power points in most large towns within 12 months where EV owners could recharge their batteries within 15 minutes compared to the usual seven hours from domestic electricity sources.

As it builds a network of charging points for EV batteries, Mr McManus said the ESB would initially focus on locating them in high-density locations such as shopping centres and large apartment blocks.

However, the ESB will also facilitate motorists who will need special sockets or adaptors to recharge their cars at home.

Andy Palmer, senior vice-president of Nissan, said Ireland represented a suitable location for a large-scale roll-out of EVs due to its population size and government supports.

Most Nissan EVs have a driving range of 160km, which will meet the daily commuting needs of 90% of Irish motorists, said Mr Palmer. The car manufacturer will offer Irish customers an opportunity to lease car batteries for their EVs, which will be a cheaper option.