REPEATED problems with electric vehicle chargers in Ennis have prompted calls for more reliable units, with council officials indicating that upgrades and improvements to charging capacity are being considered.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG), deputy mayor of Ennis, raised the issue in a notice of motion, highlighting chargers on Dr Daly’s Road at Fairgreen, Lee’s Road and at Active Ennis which she said were out of service.
She said she regularly received calls and messages from people reporting that the chargers were not working, describing the situation as a source of ongoing frustration for electric vehicle owners.
“Week in and week out, I get calls and texts saying they are not working,” she told the meeting.
Cllr Howard said people who had switched to electric vehicles were experiencing repeated difficulties accessing public charging points and questioned whether the existing units were suitable.
“Maybe the ones we have are just not the right ones,” she said, asking whether there was a better way to provide the service.
Tom Mellett, Senior Executive Engineer, said the council had been liaising with the operator of the chargers regarding maintenance and that there was an opportunity to upgrade the units.
He advised users who encounter faults to report them through the EZO app.
Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) supported the motion, saying the issue was being experienced across the county.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) also backed the call, describing it as a “nationwide problem” and highlighting particular difficulties in West Clare.
“It’s not something that is going away,” he said, noting that charging was less of a concern for people who could charge their vehicles at home.
Mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) said he also received numerous calls on a regular basis about chargers not working.
Speaking at the meeting, Hugh McGrath, Senior Engineer with the Ennis Municipal District, said the charging units had been installed several years ago and that the approach to electric vehicle charging had changed significantly since then.
He said many of the existing units had been installed at locations where motorists could leave their vehicles charging for a couple of hours, providing a top-up rather than the faster charging available from newer units.
Mr McGrath said newer designs offered faster charging options, but additional electricity provision would be needed at at least one local location.
He said a number of initiatives were coming down the line to improve charging capacity, with the newly appointed engineer expected to examine provision in Ennis and across the county as part of their role.
Cllr Howard also sought clarification on whether there was a plan or scheme to replace or upgrade the existing units.
Mr McGrath said reviewing charging provision in Ennis and across the county would form part of the newly appointed engineer’s role.
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