Policy needed for safe charging of EVs 

A Mayo County Council official has said the local authority’s Roads and Sustainable Travel Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) needs to devise a policy to safely allow drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) to charge their vehicles in urban areas.

The council's Acting Head of Roads Conrad Harley told last week’s SPC that this is an issue that has been brought up commonly among EV drivers who live in apartments in a town centre or similar housing.

“As an SPC, we need to formulate a policy on how EV owners in urban areas can bring a charging cable across a footpath,” he said.

Mr Harley said that typically 99% of EV charging takes place at home and the use of public chargers is limited but there is still a need to expand the network.

In response to a point raised by Cllr Jarlath Munnelly highlighting the lack of EV charging facilities in the Killala and Ballycastle area - and in particular, at the popular Downpatrick Head - Mr Harley said the location of a charger depends on how much power is available in an area.

“Killala should have no problem because of the power required at the Asahi site but it would be more difficult at an area like Downpatrick Head,” he said.