The 120kW charger situated in Kennedy Place Car Park in Navan allows drivers to charge up within a matter of minutes and marks a significant step towards accessibility of sustainable energy solutions for local residents as well as those travelling to and through County Meath.
The installation comes as part of the FASTER Project - an initiative by Louth County Council and East Border Region - aimed at encouraging sustainable transport use and ensuring the swift and easy transition to electric vehicles across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Western Scotland.
Having already established a strong public charging network across Northern Ireland, Philip Rainey, Chief Executive of Weev, expressed enthusiasm in the company's role in advancing EV infrastructure in Ireland, stating:
“At Weev, our goal is to enhance electric vehicle infrastructure across the island, and this initiative enables us to achieve precisely that objective.
“Undoubtedly, the border counties have been notably underserved in terms of EV support to date, but in collaboration with Louth County Council and East Border Region Ltd, we can rectify that.
“Through the delivery of the FASTER project, we aim to propel County Meath towards heightened access to rapid EV charging and support the widespread adoption of EVs.”
After a competitive tender process to find the best fit provider, Weev was appointed by Louth County Council and East Border Region, alongside M&M Contractors, to deliver 25 charge-points.
The FASTER project received €6.4 million EU funding under the INTERREG VA programme and is supported by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Philip added:
“We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract by Louth County Council and East Border Region who are aligned with our goal to deliver the best-in-class EV infrastructure for the border region.
“The installation of a public EV charger in Navan is an exciting step in our journey towards creating an all-island EV network and we look forward to exploring further opportunities within County Meath moving forward.”
Attending the unveiling of the newly installed EV charger, Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr. Paul McCabe said:
"I am delighted to see the installation of a rapid charging station in Kennedy Plaza.
“The recent improvements made to the plaza have considerably improved the way people use and enjoy the area, and the ability to charge electric vehicles quickly adds another dimension to it.
“This also highlights the growing accessibility of EV charging, especially rapid charging, which is no longer limited to motorway service stations.
“The presence of charging stations in town centres will attract more people to these areas, contributing to the local economy and the collaborative approach adopted to implement this project will undoubtedly be duplicated for additional EV charging initiatives."
East Border Region Chief Executive Pamela Arthurs stated:
“The FASTER Project is an example of how cross border collaboration can make a positive contribution to sustainable transport infrastructure across the Border Region.
“With financial support from the EU INTERREG VA Programme, supported by the Special EU Programmes Body, the project has successfully delivered 75 rapid EV Chargers across Northern Ireland, the Border Counties of Ireland, and Western Scotland.”
Cllr. Terry Andrews, Chairman of East Border Region concluded:
“East Border Region is delighted to be Lead Partner on the FASTER Project and is delighted to see the project reach a successful conclusion.
“I would like to commend Weev and M&M Contractors for their efforts to ensure the charge-points were delivered across the Border Counties within a very challenging timeframe.”
Alongside the rapid charging hub in County Meath, Weev will be installing a further 24 EV charge-points across counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Monaghan, Cavan, and Louth by the end of the year.
For more information on Weev and its public, domestic, and workplace EV solutions, visit www.weev.ie