UK. SSE opens public EV charging hub in Ireland

Power infrastructure firm SSE has opened its first ultra-rapid EV charging hub in Ireland – a 10-bay facility in Mullingar, County Westmeath.

The project, located just off the M4 at Lough Sheever Corporate Park, is part of SSE’s plan to build 300 ultra-rapid EV charging hubs powered by traceable, renewable energy in the UK and Ireland over the next five years with several sites already open and more under construction.

Each ultra-rapid bay has charging capabilities of up to 150 kilowatts (kW), sufficient to deliver 12.5 kms of range per minute of charging.

The site has been specifically designed to accommodate electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), as well as standard EVs.

It has four long wheelbase drive-through bays purpose built for eHGVs, making it the first site of its kind in Ireland.

Drivers will be able to use Tap’n’Go payments and SSE’s roaming payment partner Octopus Electroverse to pay for their charging.

Over the coming months, SSE plans to open further hubs at various Irish locations including Blanchardstown Business Park and Greenogue Industrial Estate – both County Dublin – as well as Ashbourne Retail Park, County Meath.

Sean O’Callaghan, SSE’s EV Operations Director, said, “With the number of EVs on Irish roads growing quickly, the deployment of fast and reliable EV charging infrastructure is essential.

“The launch of our first ultra-rapid charging hub in Ireland is proof that SSE will support the Irish Government’s ambitions to meet the demand for this infrastructure and this is just the beginning of our ambitions.

“We are working to build a network of easy-to-reach charging points that will serve communities across Ireland.”