A Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Ireland

Despite an ambitious government plan in 2010 to install 3,500 electric car charging points in Ireland by the end of 2011, only approximately 1,350 public charging stations currently exist on the island of Ireland. The organization entrusted with implementing the 2010 rollout was ESB ecars, which was established the same year as a subsidiary of the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland. Despite the failure of their ambitious scheme to come to fruition, ESB ecars continues to be the foremost administrator of distribution and transmission networks as well as electric car charging stations across Ireland. At Wattcharger, we strive to ensure that EV owners and enthusiasts are informed about the available vehicle charging stations. Although it is evident that charging stations are increasingly prevalent in Ireland, many remain unaware of the associated costs, power, and utility of these chargers. Today, we will examine the 1,350 EV charging stations located throughout Ireland and where to locate them.

The ESB Charging Network in Ireland

Electric car charging points, operated by ESB, are available throughout Ireland for charging the batteries of electric vehicles. The power, prices, and types of chargers available may vary based on the type of electric vehicle being used. Currently, there are a total of 1,350 public charging points in Ireland, with 907 located in the Republic of Ireland and 443 in Northern Ireland. The majority of the public chargers are 22kWh alternating current (AC) chargers that take energy from the national grid and convert it into a form that can be harnessed by electric vehicles using a converter.

Out of the 907 EV charging points in the Republic of Ireland, approximately 347 are located in County Dublin, representing over 25% of the total infrastructure. Consequently, there has been a growing demand for more electric car charging installations throughout the country. Last autumn, Colm Markey, MEP for Midlands-Northwest, called for the availability of EV charging hubs every 15 minutes by road. Despite Dublin's heavy centralization of charging points, Ireland ranks 17th out of 27 EU countries in terms of the number of vehicle charging points, with just 0.5% of the EU's total.

Markey's comments came shortly after the unveiling of the National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025, which allocated €100 million to ensure that there is at least one electric car charging point every 60 km throughout Ireland.

To learn more, The ESB website hosts an interactive charge point map of all the publicly accessible charging stations in Ireland today.

How much does it cost to use a public car charge point in Ireland?

Having a basic understanding of the difference between AC and DC charging stations is crucial. In many cases, public car charging locations have both types, but DC charge points are usually much larger.

The unit of energy used by electric vehicles is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The size of an electric vehicle's battery is determined by its kWh capacity. On average, EV batteries have a capacity of 40 kWh, although some models can have up to 100 kWh.

As previously mentioned, the majority of ESB electric car charging points in Ireland are 22kWh AC chargers. This means that for an average EV with a battery size of about 36 kWh, a 22kWh electric car charging point will take approximately two hours to fully charge. However, some more powerful vehicles like the Tesla 3 require less than two hours for a full charge.

ESB offers a membership for €4.79 per month that provides access to better rates. Last December, ESB significantly increased the price to use their charging points across Ireland.

Right now, it will cost approximately €20 to charge an average EV battery if you are an ESB member and about €25 if you are not a member. The cost of charging the electric vehicle will increase in line with the size of the EV battery. So based on these new prices, car owners can anticipate paying approximately €8-10 for every 100 kilometers traveled on the road.

Is it beneficial to install an electric car charger at home?

The recent hikes in already-high rates at public electric car charge points are leading many individuals to take matters into their own hands. It is not a secret that homeowners who desire to future-proof their charging solutions are obtaining their own home charge points. From cost to effectiveness, installing a home charge point is the logical decision for electric vehicle owners. Apart from providing insulation against any further ESB price hikes, a home charger enables homeowners to provide their vehicles with the best treatment possible. Similar to a phone, car batteries function optimally when they can be fully charged instead of jumping from power source to power source. This provides Irish EV drivers with home charge points with an immeasurable advantage over those who rely on public electric car charge points. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is the price. Electrical power sourced independently by the home or business grid is significantly less expensive than that available at ESB charge points. On average, homeowners in Ireland can save €0.15 per kWh when charging at home, or even up to €0.30 when charging overnight. To boot, The Sustainable Development Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers grant schemes of up to €600 for home chargers, making it the perfect time to explore EV charging options for your home. If you have any questions or are interested in installing an electric car charge point, please review the Zappi, the most eco-friendly home charger on the Irish market today.