ESB keeping electric vehicle charging costs ‘under constant review’

Published on 7 September, 2022

Overview

ESB e-cars has told Independent Motors it is keeping its EV charging prices “under constant review” as it is exposed to huge increases in the wholesale cost of energy.

That is only to be expected given the soaring cost and scarcity of supply. There were no signs of an imminent increase from a reply to a query from Independent Motors. But who knows what lies in store – not just for e-cars but for any business?

ESB e-cars had to increase its fees for public charging by up to 47pc in early May.

One of the best ways of keeping costs low is to charge your car as much as possible at home. That is, after all, where power is cheapest.

That is the case for now but the experts reckon more people will use a wider selection of charging points as the range that newer cars can cover on one charge increases. There will be a more “layered” choice of charging options.

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That is already under way, they say, as people are not only charging at home, but doing so at work, at supermarkets and hotels.

The Government has also provided funding so that local authorities can install EV chargers. We need to see more.

The charging network comes in for a lot of criticism, some of it justified, some not.

The company claims that, since 2019, ESB has upgraded and expanded the EV charging network. This involved more multi-charging hubs, high-power chargers and upgrading of AC chargers nationwide.

And yet reports of delays and slow charging times continue apace from disgruntled drivers.

Other work undertaken includes installation of 19 high-power hubs which allow at least three EVs to charge at one time.

Construction is under way for eight-bay, high-power EV charging hubs in Mullingar, Oranmore, Co Galway and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre but they are assessing other sites on motorways and national road networks to erect high-power charging hubs.

They are all badly needed to meet the expected large increase in EV ownership – and charging demand – over the next few years, not to mention those who feel it takes too long and involves too much hassle to get a public charge right now.

But regardless of arguments about network capability now, one thing is clear, we must be in a position to cope with a big increase in capacity.

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