Galway gears up for electric cars

Date Published: 01-Apr-2010

By Dara Bradley

A total of 45 public ‘docking stations’ for recharging electric-powered vehicles will be installed throughout Galway by 2011.

The bulk of the 45 ESB Electric Vehicle charge outlets or ‘juice points’ will be located in County Galway with between three and six in Galway City.

Two of the on-street stations will be installed in the city possibly by the middle of this year with the remaining to be rolled out next year. Eyre Square is being considered as a location for the first two stations.

Senior Engineer with Galway County Council Michael Owens told the Galway City Tribune that areas that are included in its Smarter Travel funding bid – Loughrea, Claregalway, Oranmore and Barna – will be prioritised for the roll-out of docking stations in the county.

The County Council has a sole bid for €5 million for Smarter Travel funding from the Department of Transport and if it is successful electric recharging docking stations will be installed at Loughrea town’s three public car parks and on street.

The County Council also has a joint bid with Galway City Council for a €25 million grant of the Smarter Travel funds with the City Council for the Galway Metropolitan Area that covers the city, Claregalway, Oranmore and Barna.

If the joint bid is successful, docking stations will be installed at Oranmore Railway Station, which is currently under construction. They will also be built in the centre of Barna and Oranmore villages and in the vicinity of the school and church in Claregalway. The bids are part of a drive on behalf of the local authorities to promote sustainable public transport in Galway.

For more on this story, see Page 3 of the Galway City Tribune.