2.1 Principle 1: EV infrastructure

2.1 Principle 1: EV infrastructure will form part of a wider sustainable transport network

As part of the ‘Avoid, Shift, Improve’ approach24, it is key that for those journeys where the only option is to travel by private car, their carbon footprint can be improved by using an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles will have an important part to play in transforming the Irish transport system into one that is clean, green, and sustainable. This improved system will support communities and economic growth as we move towards a net zero carbon future.

The provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure will align with this roadmap, recognising that sustainable mobility will not be a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it will develop and evolve to reflect local needs and circumstances. These will include whether vehicle users live in rural or urban settings, whether they live in houses or apartments, what access they have to public transport options, and whether they can use active travel to move around.

The projected increase in the number of EVs (alongside the rollout of associated infrastructure) will not occur in isolation. It will happen as part of a wider transformation that will see more people walking and cycling to their destinations. This transformation should also involve more use of public transport and new shared car initiatives (such as car clubs) in preference to car ownership.

2.2. Principle 2: EV charging infrastructure will work for everyone, regardless of age, health, income, or other needs

A fully-inclusive EV charging infrastructure network will work for everyone, regardless of age, health, income, or other needs. This will ensure a fair and equitable transition to large-scale EV use.

To support this mobility transformation, the ways in which our cities, towns, and transport networks are designed, built, and used will change. This will happen as part of a wider prioritisation of sustainability and climate-friendly policies. With sustainability will come co-benefits such as improved air quality, lower noise pollution, and healthier environments. These will support progress towards achieving a better life for all as set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)25.

To ensure access for all citizens, a set of Accessibility Standards, specifically focused on EV charging infrastructure, will be developed. These standards will ensure that principles of universal access and universal design are considered at all stages of EV infrastructure development, from planning and design stages to operation and use.

Additionally, EV charging infrastructure needs to be accessible, safe, and secure for all members

It will be important that both the planning of and investment in electric vehicle charging

24 https://www.transformative-mobility.org/assets/publications/ASI_TUMI_SUTP_iNUA_No-9_April-2019.pdf

25 Particularly UN SDG 3 ‘Good health and well-being’, SDG 7 ‘Affordable and clean energy’, SDG 9 ‘Industry, Innovation and infrastructure’, SDG 11 ‘Sustainable cities and communities’ and SDG 13 ‘Climate action’; for more information on the SDGs see https://sdgs.un.org/goals and https:// irelandsdg.geohive.ie/.

to that seen in other European countries such as Norway27, the Netherlands28, or the United Kingdom29. In these countries, most early-adopter charging is done at home.

of the population. This means that decisions around the siting and location of EV charging infrastructure should always take into account the potential impact on users and the wider public. Issues such as seclusion, lighting, and safety, together with the potential creation of new hazards to other road users such as pedestrians or cyclists, should be carefully considered at all the stages of the decision-making process.

Approximately three quarters of Irish car owners have access to private off-street parking with the option of installing lower-power charge points (c. 3.4 kW-7 kW) that can be connected to domestic electricity supplies30. Home charging allows electric vehicles to be parked, plugged in, and left to charge overnight, with the possibility of benefitting from lower night-rate electricity prices.

The strategic siting of rural EV charge points will support the transition to electric car use in areas of low population density. Moreover, the strategic planning of EV schemes will be extended, both nationally and on an all-island basis, in order to calibrate the provision of charging infrastructure from a just transition perspective. This will not only include rural areas or locations where making the business case for investment is more challenging, but also other underserved areas lacking public transport provision or other travel alternatives.

As well as being cost-effective for vehicle users, home charging can also offer wider systemic benefits. By spreading the charging loads across longer and off-peak time frames, home charging can reduce pressure on local electricity networks and can result in more evenly-distributed loads across the national electricity grid. If combined with at-home renewable-energy generation, such as solar panels, it can reduce or remove the need for electricity from the grid.

The provision of dedicated EV charging infrastructure for e-car clubs and at taxi ranks has the potential to support the move away from car ownership. This is an example of embracing the ‘Avoid, Shift, Improve’ approach.

As EV uptake accelerates in Ireland, home charging should remain the most common and easiest form of charging for the majority of vehicle users. Special provisions should be made for people who live in higher-density residential blocks (such as apartments) as well as people in residential developments with shared parking facilities. The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2021 already have particular standards in place for new buildings (containing one or more dwellings) and buildings undergoing major renovation. Such buildings must include infrastructure which allows for the future installation of charging points for EVs.

The need for a reliable EV infrastructure to support the tourism industry will also be given special consideration, particularly in those areas (often rural) where seasonality may pose challenges to developing a year-round, commercially-viable charging infrastructure. This includes, for instance, tourist offerings such as the Wild Atlantic Way, the Gaeltacht, and the Islands.