Street lamps could offer hope for electric car rollout

The trial use of street lamps as electric car charging points is expected to lead to a quicker national rollout of power-up options for drivers and an increased changeover to emission-free vehicles.

Electric car drivers will be able to plug into lamp posts over the summer in south Dublin when Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown starts a pilot project. Dublin City Council is also exploring installing lamp post chargers in the Docklands area.

Environment Minister Denis Naughten confirmed the plans are being finalised and if the simple-to-use new technology is successful it could overhaul charging facilities nationwide.