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.