Kildare's EV Charging Conundrum: Legal Hurdles And Infrastructure Complexities Revealed

Wednesday, 1 May 2024 15:19

By Martin Osborne

Kildare County Council is hoping to develop an EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy for the region.

Residents of apartments and townhouses without individual parking spaces in Kildare are facing challenges in accessing electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, according to a recent report by Kildare County Council.

The report highlights the complexities involved, including legal constraints such as the Electricity Regulations Act 1999 and the presence of privately owned electricity infrastructure.

The Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) has initiated a public consultation to explore the role of Private Wires in the future Irish electricity ecosystem, with stakeholders like Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) seeking exemptions for EV charging infrastructure.

Kildare County Council is hoping to develop an EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy for the region, which includes Louth, Meath, Wicklow, and Kildare. The strategy is currently in its early stages, with a request for tenders for consultant services expected to be issued soon.

The development of this strategy, supported by ZEVI, aims to address issues faced by residents without off-street parking and explore potential solutions.

According to the council, tenders for a consultant to support the development of the strategy is about to go live on eTenders and the strategy will take approximately eight months to develop.

National guidance recommends neighbourhood charging stations as a preferred solution, but challenges remain in ensuring equitable access and cost distribution.