Ireland is to install its first electric car charge locations by Easter. There are plans to install 1.500 electric charge locations by the end of 2011. The cost of installing the charging points will be $27million.
The three charging points will be located in Dublin City, one will be outside the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) headquarters, the second will be put outside the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the third will be located outside the Irish Development Agency on Wilton Place.
The charge points will be initially installed along major routes and built up urban areas. There will be thirty DC fast charging points installed on Ireland's motorways. The DC points can fully recharge a car in 30 minutes.
The project was spearheaded by the Government, ESB, Nissan and Renault. The directive wants 10% of all vehicles in Ireland to be fully electric by 2020. It is estimated a total of 30,000 chargers will be needed to cater for an estimated 230,000 electric vehicles.
ESB's head of network sustainability, Senan McGrath said, "What is going on in Ireland is at least as advanced as what is going on elsewhere."
Nissan will release a conventional electric model by the end of this year, while Renault will release the Renault Fluence in 2011. The cars will have a top speed of 100km/h and a range of 160km. The cars are specifically aimed at urban commuters.
It is hoped that 4,000 cars will be on the road by the end of 2011.
2 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Monsoonman | Feb 20, 2010, 07:13 PM EST
Has anybody actually sat down and penciled out the true cost of these cars? They get 60 miles per charge, then need to be slow charged for 7-8 hours on a 220 volt power source. You are going to have one heck of an electric bill at the end of the month. Plus what is providing the electric power to your house? Or do they think it is free? Coal/gas/oil/nuclear fired power generating stations?...You need to think things through.
TaranOconner | Feb 20, 2010, 12:06 AM EST
Fast charging wears out batteries FAST! As batteries are most of the cost of an electric vehicle this 'scheme' should be a money-maker for the Battery Companies, the Car Manufacturers and the Electric Companies. 27 Million for 1500 charging sites? Who is their Electrical contractor? Way too expensive.