COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 09, 2024
QUESTION NO.30
QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin
To ask the Chief Executive if the plans for EV charging points included in the SDCC Climate Action Plan include locations in existing housing estates?
REPLY:
Within SDCC Climate Action Plan (2024-2029), objective T25 outlines the goal for the council to continue the implementation of the Dublin Local Authority Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy. The strategy is a comprehensive report, setting out a co-ordinated approach to deploy EV charging infrastructure in the four Dublin region Local Authorities (LAs), to support the transition to Electric Vehicles. The strategy takes into account national targets for EV role out. By 2030, it is estimated approximately 138,000 EV’s will be owned and operating within the Dublin region, of which, approximately 75% of EV’s will be predominately charged at the vehicle owners residential driveway. The strategy focuses ensuring appropriate EV charging infrastructure is available for the remaining 25% of EV owners, that will not have access to driveway charging.
The strategy, identifies 5 key methods for residents of the Dublin region to charge their EV’s, as set out below.
- Home charging – vehicle charged at the owners driveway/garage/shared carpark, typically overnight, with slow chargers (3-7kw).
- Neighbourhood charging – vehicle charged near owners home who do not have off street parking, typically overnight, with slow to fast charging (7-22kw).
- Residential charging hub – vehicle charged in centralised hubs close to home, can cater for car sharing and taxi’s, 24 hour use, with rapid to ultra rapid charging (50-150kw).
- Destination charging – vehicles charged at the end of a journey, typically public amenities such as shops, parks and community buildings, operated during the amenity opening times, with slow to rapid charging (3-50kw).
- En-route charging – vehicles charged along major routes/main roads, typically located in service stations, with fast turnaround rapid and ultra raipd charging ( 50-350kw).
In the case of Neighbourhood Charging, Residential Charging Hub and Destination Charging, the Local Authority has a role in the delivery of the necessary infrastructure, with the assistance of central government funding through the Department of Transport and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI).
A procurement competition has just been completed for a 10-year concession framework agreement, to allow for the appointment of a contractor for the design, install and operate destination charge points across the entire county of Dublin. An initial 50 projects will be installed within the Dublin region during 2024/25, of which 14 sites have been identified in the SDCC region. The initial sites are predominately in carparks of public parks and amenities operated by SDCC, allowing users access to fast and rapid charging. The preferred contractor, ePower, will be delivering charging locations throughout 2025, with first sites expected to be delivered Q1 2025. Additional sites have been identified and surveys have commenced to ensure the appropriate level of infrastructure is in place.
In the case of Neighbourhood charging, a similar procurement process to Destination Charging is being considered for the operation of EV Charging in estates taken in charge by the 4 Dublin Local Authorities. The tender will be required to address the operation of EV Charging in new developments, which infrastructure has been provided and is operational as a condition of planning. The tender process will also be required to address older residential developments in the charge of the Local Authority and where residents don’t have access to off street parking.
Public EV Charging delivery can be challanging, as upgrades are frequently required to the national grid, and the current market for EV Charging Operators is small and is at an early stage of development. SDCC will continue to push to achieve the objectives of the Climate Action Plan in the area of EV charging, as it recognises the role of this council is critical for the continued growth of EV’s to achieve the reduction in emissions targets.