Homeowners can now share their EV charging points with drivers in the local community,
EasyGo, one the the country’s biggest EV charging providers, and the Department of Transport, have joined forces to launch an innovative new EV charging pilot scheme,
The initiative, titled the Shared Charging Project, is the first of its kind in Ireland and targets one of the major barriers for many drivers towards adopting an EV: the lack of access to home charging.
Having access to private home charging is a prerequisite for most EV owners as it allows them to easily charge their car at cheap overnight rates with their existing energy supplier. Having to rely solely on public charging infrastructure can be both inconvenient, unreliable and expensive.
But installing a home charger can be difficult for those living in densely populated areas as there may not be the room to do so unless a driver has a dedicated parking spot.
This pilot scheme addresses this challenge directly. Homeowners who have off-street parking and the capacity to install a charger can now share that resource with neighbours who don’t. This approach not only increases the availability of EV chargers around the country but also builds community resilience and fosters a spirit of sustainability through local collaboration.
How the shared charging initiative works
The scheme is currently being launched as a pilot in a select number of locations across Ireland. The chosen communities are:
- Kilcock, Co. Kildare
- Dingle, Co. Kerry
- Finglas, Stoneybatter, and Phibsborough in Dublin
These pilot locations were selected based on a number of factors such as residential layout, population density, and existing demand for EV infrastructure.
Homeowners in these areas who are interested in participating can apply through EasyGo’s official website. Applicants will then be assessed based on the suitability of their property, parking accessibility, and the potential to support community use. Successful applicants will then receive an EasyGo EV charger which the company will install for free.
Once the charger is in place, the homeowner can list it on the EasyGo network, making it visible to nearby EV drivers through the app. This allows anyone in the local community — especially those who can’t install a charger themselves — to locate and use a nearby residential charger with ease.
Users simply book a charging session through the platform, pay for what they use, and benefit from a local, reliable charging option without the need to travel to a public station or wait in line.
Homeowners will then be reimbursed monthly by EasyGo at a rate that will never be lower than what they paid for their electricity, and they can set the times that access is permitted to suit their own needs. You'll then get paid through your preferred payment method, typically on a monthly basis, from EasyGo.
For homeowners, this scheme not only contributes to the green transition but also offers a way to offset the cost of their own charging infrastructure through shared usage. For drivers, it means better access to charging in areas where it might previously have been scarce.
And you don’t even need to own an EV to participate. If you have a suitable driveway or parking spot, you can install an EV charger and then make it available to the community too.
Collecting data to shape Ireland’s EV future
The pilot phase will run throughout 2025, and may be extended, and is expected to generate valuable data that can inform future EV infrastructure decisions at both a local and national level.
By tracking usage uptake, pricing dynamics, and community engagement, the initiative will hopefully offer key insights into how shared charging could be expanded across the country.
This type of decentralised charging infrastructure has already been explored in other countries, and early results suggest that it can significantly boost EV uptake.
This innovative pilot reflects how local action can support national ambition. By enabling homeowners to share access to EV chargers, the Shared Charging Project taps into the power of community to close infrastructure gaps, accelerate EV adoption and help achieve our climate goals.
Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien.
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