The Electric Vehicle Charging Alliance of Ireland (EVCAI) has called on the Government to urgently fast track planning and grid connections to support the rapid rollout of renewable-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, as Ireland and other energy‑importing economies face ongoing global energy price volatility and long‑term supply uncertainty.
EVCAI said that electric vehicles must now be recognised not only as a climate solution, but as a core component of Ireland’s energy security and national resilience strategy.
Darren Kinsella, BDM New Energy Landscapes at Schneider Electric and spokesperson for EVCAI said: “Ireland remains heavily exposed to global fuel markets that are volatile, unpredictable and increasingly insecure. Reducing that exposure requires long‑term system design, not short‑term fixes. Electric vehicles powered by domestic renewable electricity give the State a way to reduce that exposure quickly and permanently – but only if infrastructure delivery is treated with urgency.”
EVCAI welcomed the continued growth in EV adoption but cautioned that slow planning approvals and prolonged grid connection timelines are limiting Ireland’s ability to modernise infrastructure fast enough to keep pace with electrification.
The Alliance stressed that EV charging infrastructure should be treated as critical national infrastructure, designed, connected and operated with the same focus on reliability, resilience and long-term performance as energy, water and communications networks.
EVCAI called on Government to:
- Fast track planning permissions for EV charging infrastructure nationwide
- Prioritise grid connections for charging hubs, depots and strategic transport corridors
- Accelerate grid reinforcement and flexibility measures in areas of constraint
Delivering these benefits at scale depends not just on rollout speed, but on smart planning, grid‑aware design and infrastructure that can adapt under constraint.
EVs charged using Irish generated renewable electricity:
- Reduce reliance on imported oil and gas
- Increase the use of domestic energy resources
- Improve long term price stability and predictability
“In the current global context, infrastructure delays are not an administrative issue. They directly affect Ireland’s ability to control costs, improve resilience and deliver a reliable transition to electrified transport. Energy security, climate action and transport policy have now converged. Fast tracking planning, unlocking grid connections and prioritising renewable powered charging is essential to protecting Ireland’s economic stability and national resilience. Every electric vehicle powered by renewable energy displaces imported fuel with Irish electricity. That shift strengthens the economy, improves resilience and keeps energy spending at home, while simultaneously supporting the Government’s climate ambitions.” Kinsella concluded.
EVCAI said that accelerating the delivery of renewable‑powered EV infrastructure presents a significant opportunity for Ireland – strengthening energy resilience, improving long‑term cost predictability and ensuring electrification supports economic stability as well as climate ambition.