Faster project - 36 Charger sites for NI & border counties

zg3409

14 ROI sites, 22 NI sites

Website with details

https://www.fasterevcharge.com/provisional-locations-for-faster-project-charging-stations-revealed/

Interactive maps here

ROI

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VdEPG6qgfn2FECiJ6

NI

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YWHbVwyuY3xQd4yN9

The faster project has funding to deliver chargers in Scotland, NI and ROI border counties. It's fairly advanced with proposed sites selected and tenders going out. The timeline is hoping they will be in place before end of year 2023 which seems to be optimistic. Here is Ni tender

https://www.fasterevcharge.com/tender-opportunities-announced-for-provision-of-ev-charging-in-northern-ireland/

Pre tender for ROI here

https://www.fasterevcharge.com/louth-county-council-publish-project-information-memorandum-and-pre-qualification-questionnaire-pqq/

Some sites will get 2 x 50kW units. Most sites are owned by local councils. It is their intention touch to pay by credit card will be an option.

Republic of Ireland

The proposed locations in the Republic of Ireland cover all six border counties, with a charging station also planned to be installed within the Meath County Council area. Several locations will have 2 charge points installed.

No. Sites Co-ords (approx)

County Location

1 Louth Ardee river car park 53.85395664054384, -6.538501728909347

2 Louth Drogheda, Donore Road 53.711140689022486, -6.355046323255211

3 Louth Dundalk, Tennis Club car park 54.003255, -6.391774

4 Monaghan Carrickmacross 53.971108, -6.715439

5 Monaghan Monaghan Town, Courthouse 54.24767963569919, -6.96938418949803

6 Cavan Cavan Town 53.99037630903764, -7.358608700841878

7 Cavan Virginia 53.83369645131925, -7.083094580715263

8 Donegal Ballybofey 54.797755097760664, -7.7825632615319655

9 Donegal Buncrana 55.136498724282475, -7.452900804168365

10 Leitrim Carrick-on-Shannon 53.945012165534976, -8.093805921149167

11 Leitrim Manorhamilton 54.3054527 -8.170549

12 Sligo Connaughton Road 54.27325334760885, -8.47006122356878

13 Sligo Tobercurry 54.05463378125947, -8.728130530354132

14 Meath Kennedy Plaza, Navan 53.653065, -6.686816

No. Location Local Authority No. of 50KW chargers

1 Bangor Sportsplex, Old Belfast Road, Bangor, BT19 1LU Ards and North Down Borough Council 1

2 Londonderry Park, Portaferry Road, Newtownards, BT23 8SG Ards and North Down Borough Council 1

3 Banbridge Leisure Centre, 15 Downshire Place, Banbridge, BT32 3JY Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council 1

4 South Lake Leisure Centre, 1 Lake Road, Craigavon, BT64 1AS Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council 1

5 Cultural Heritage Service Library, 39c Abbey Street, Armagh, BT61 7EB Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council 1

6 Belvoir Activity Centre, 100 Belvoir Drive, Belfast, County Antrim BT8 7DT Belfast City Council 1

7 Ballysillan Leisure Centre, Ballysillan Road, Belfast, BT14 7QP Belfast City Council 1

8 Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, BT14 6EG Belfast City Council 1

9 Foyle Arena, Limavady Road, Londonderry, BT47 6JY Derry City and Strabane District Council 1

10 Queens Quay Car Park, 25 Queens Quay, Derry, Londonderry BT48 6DL Derry City and Strabane District Council 1

11 Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh BT78 1BL Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 1

12 Bawnacre Centre, Castle Street, Irvinestown, Enniskillen, BT94 1EE Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 1

13 The Ardhowen, 97 Dublin Road, Derrychara, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 6FZ Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 1

14 ECOS Centre Car Park, Kernohans Lane, Ballymena, BT43 7QA Mid & East Antrim Borough Council 1

15 Larne Leisure Centre, 28 Tower Road, Larne, BT40 1AB Mid & East Antrim Borough Council 1

16 Amphitheatre Wellness Centre, Prince William Way, Carrickfergus, BT38 7HP Mid & East Antrim Borough Council 1

17 Dungannon Leisure Centre, Circular Road, Dungannon, BT71 6BH Mid Ulster District Council 1

18 Maghera Leisure Centre, 48a Coleraine Road, Maghera, BT46 5BN Mid Ulster District Council 1

19 Cookstown Leisure Centre, 78 Fountain Road, Cookstown, BT80 8QF Mid Ulster District Council 1

20 Kilkeel Leisure Centre, Mourne Esplanade, Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4DB Newry, Mourne and Down District Council 1

21 Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle, BT33 0AA Newry, Mourne and Down District Council 1

22 Bagenal’s Castle, Abbey Way, Newry, BT34 2BY Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

zg3409

Update from Faster Project at this mornings webinar - "Tender temporarily suspended. Some sites have had to be revised again due to capacity issues. Working with councils on alternatives. Revised document will be out in the next week or so. Watch this space on 2 missing chargers"

zg3409

The updated Faster Project tender has been released today with “24 Charge points (10 Single Chargers and 7 Double Chargers)” across 17 locations. 7 “reserve sites” have also been detailed.

(This is NI only list)

the_amazing_raisin

Have they detailed what kind of chargers will be installed? Double charger could be a single DC with an AC socket for example

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120641805#Comment_120641805

It reminds of the prototype eCars network pre 2017, seems very unambitious for a 2023 rollout

zg3409

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120641891#Comment_120641891

I believe chargers will have chademo and CCS and around 50kW. I assume only one car at a time unless the site is a 2 unit site.

It does seem outdated design. One or two decent hubs would be a better spend in my opinion.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120647296#Comment_120647296

Yeah I assume they're going for maximum coverage with limited funding

Even if they'd installed 2 chargers at each location and sacrificed the one charger sites if would be a lot better

MJohnston

Interesting — Bangor Aurora already has a "double charger" and you have to go into the leisure centre to get a fob to activate it (and then return it) so they're incredibly useless. I think the car park is also closed at night too.

zg3409

From evani today. Note number of sites mentioned before may have been reduced

We are hearing that the Faster Project tenders for NI and RoI have been awarded. The race is now on to install the new DC rapid chargers before the end of this year.

zg3409

Note many of these sites are marked as "coming soon" on plugshare app. Not all sites may be included. Sites in some NI counties have all been dropped by the looks of it.

We can at last share the news that the Faster Project tender has been awarded to EasyGo for NI. We look forward to seeing 'rapid' progress to get chargers installed before the end of this year ⚡️🚗

https://www.fasterevcharge.com/easygo-appointed-to-design-build-and-operate-the-faster-ev-charger-network-in-northern-ireland/?fbclid=IwAR3VF5RLN4i5SuKdUzkdVnbHHY1ZT84z7pNMsPjxPPB-MLa-kpEnPmHWqmg

Ulster University and East Border Region Ltd have announced the appointment of EasyGo, following a competitive public tender process to install and operate 24 rapid electric vehicle chargers at locations across the Belfast City Council, Ards and North Down Borough and Newry, Mourne and Down district council areas.

These new chargers will be installed as part of the FASTER Project which has received €6.4 million EU funding under the INTERREG VA programme. The project is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) to support the transition to electric vehicles and sustainable transport use across Western Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Border Region). Match funding for the project has been provided by the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland) and the Department for Transport (Republic of Ireland) and Transport Scotland.

Initial site visits for the new installations are already underway and chargers are expected to be operational in the coming weeks in what will be a welcome boost to the public charging network in Northern Ireland.

Speaking about the appointment, Professor Neil Hewitt, Ulster University said;

Ulster University has been involved with the expansion of the EV charging network in Northern Ireland, through the FASTER project in conjunction with our N.I. Local Authority partners. Through this partnership we have identified a series car parks adjacent to leisure centres that have the accessibility, security, and electricity supply to facilitate one or more rapid charge points. We are now eager to deliver these charge points with our appointed contractor, EasyGo who will design, build and operate the network.

We are also delighted to confirm the appointment of Steven Clarke Consulting Ltd to provide project management support to Ulster University and EasyGo and we look forward to the successful delivery and completion of the FASTER project over the coming months.

Commenting on the appointment, Gerry Cash, Director, EasyGo, said;

“We look forward to working on this project to expand the EV fast charging network in Northern Ireland. We were the first EV charging network operator to deliver cross-border sterling and euro tariff collection capability with our UK and Irish apps (Easygo.ie and EasyGo.co.uk). We are also the first private provider on the island of Ireland to make public DC Chargers available. Once this project is complete, EasyGo will become the largest EV charging network in Northern Ireland.”

With nearly 5,000 chargers available on our network across the island of Ireland, we pride ourselves on enabling fleet and private drivers travel and find convenient and dependable charging solutions to ensure sustainable transport becomes a reality.”

East Border Region Ltd, is the lead partner on the FASTER Project and Councillor Terry Andrews, Chairman, who is also Chair of Newry Mourne and Down District Council Sustainability and Environment Committee welcomed the appointment of the infrastructure provider for Northern Ireland saying;

“EBR is delighted to lead this innovative and genuinely cross border project which will see essential EV infrastructure installed in Ireland, the border counties and Scotland. Electric vehicles are an essential component of the strategy to reduce emissions and help improve local air quality. The FASTER project will undoubtedly contribute to this aim. We look forward to the rollout of the 24 N.I. rapid charge points and to working with Ards and North Borough Council, Belfast City Council, and EasyGo in the implementation phase of the project”

zg3409

Faster Project has confirmed they have dropped from 8 council partners to just 3 now (Belfast City Council, Newry Mourne and Down & Ards & North Down Borough), due to "the technically challenging nature of this project and contractual issues that have presented themselves in recent months".

Deadline for invoicing is Dec 2023 so they may be acting fast

ROI tender winner not officially announced yet (separate tender)

liamog

Real pity that EasyGo got the tender for it, they've been very reluctant to work with MSP's

McGiver

It's a good example of how the public sector is slow and inefficient. Installing 50 kW chargers in 2024 is something they should have done in 2019. If they want to make it 2024 ready, or better future-proof, then they should surely install the top of the current power as per local power supply constraints. And that's simply not 50 kW.

Long story short - the contractor will grab the public tender money for installing essentially an obsolete charger network. Not happy to support that as a taxpayer. Even if I commend the idea of this project...but the state tends to execute badly and clever private contractors will just grab the easy money.

zg3409

Weev have the contract for ROI

https://www.facebook.com/WeevCharging

dsandson

I wonder was that a factor in the award? ROI company EasyGo gets an increased presence in NI, and NI company Weev gets an improved presence in ROI. Either way Weev seem to have a good customer service and good uptime in NI so they're a decent operator.

zg3409

Latest list of NI sites. Only NI has been updated today

The FASTER Project steering group in association with our infrastructure partner EasyGo is pleased to announce the locations for a series of 50 kw, 75 kw and 180 kw electric vehicle chargers across the Belfast City Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council and Newry Mourne District Council areas.

This infrastructure will be in place before the end of 2023 and groundworks on a number of the sites have recently been completed and we look forward to seeing these sites become operational over the coming weeks and months.

For the complete list of locations please visit https://www.fasterevcharge.com/provisional-locations-for-faster-project-charging-stations-revealed/

https://www.fasterevcharge.com/provisional-locations-for-faster-project-charging-stations-revealed/?fbclid=IwAR3NDwLcrCrcfCXB-ize2MhM1DkfOcNza0lCiGxhsN-niC0vieejYQj2ww4

zg3409

NI locations as a better map.

zg3409

Sites that haven't yet appeared on the my Weev app should become available in the coming days. Installation work has been completed at the 14 locations in the Republic of Ireland.

dsandson

I'd also add that it looks like all 26 EasyGo chargers are now live in the north. All are located at sites which are not open 24/7 so check opening times.

CivilEx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121457660#Comment_121457660

Are the Weev units in the Republic e.g. Tobercurry or Connaughton Road Sligo going to 50kW or will they be faster than this?

dsandson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121490069#Comment_121490069

Last I heard they will be 120kW, with both plugs capable of simultaneous use. Chargers are capable of being upgraded to 180kW (probably an additional power module).

CivilEx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121491060#Comment_121491060

It would be great if they turn out to be that fast. The N17/N4/N15/N13 corridor from Galway / Sligo / Donegal / Ballybofey / Letterkenny is about to see some quite significant EV charging improvements so, when Charlestown (ESB), Tobercurry (Weev), Sligo (Weev), Donegal Town (ESB) and Ballybofey (Weev) all come on line shortly

CivilEx

It seems Weev are getting ahead of themselves in terms of social media and publicity for their new DC fast charging stations. The Dundalk site and the Sligo site have been "published" as open in the local papers this week, but they are not open yet in reality.

Hopefully these Faster Project sites are all nearly ready to open to the public.

Redfox25

Donegal town has been in place for months but isnt opened yet (at Supermacs is the location I am thinking of) which is a pity as fast chargers are hard to come by up there.

zg3409

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121506070#Comment_121506070

I believe they all had to "open" before the end of 2023 for contract purposes. I suspect that esb networks have not connected the upgraded supply and so actual public use will not be for a while. The whole faster project I think is to end at end of this year or at least all money drawn down or paid out so it might be a bit of creative accounting to ensure money can be paid out. The project was delayed a good few times meaning it was a mad rush in the end.

CivilEx

https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/home/1373489/leitrim-welcomes-two-rapid-charging-hubs-from-ev-infrastructure-leader-weev.html

Not sure if this is actually live yet

zg3409

While not part of the faster project this is the NI plan for weev over the next 12 months. Some sites are nearly live.

dsandson

It is for Q1 2024, not the full 12 months

denismc

I have used WEEV chargers in the past and its possible to start them with Epower app or fob which some of you might use.

Great to see more chargers in Carrick- on Shannon, its a busy spot in the summer.

Philips2233

Irish EV Association  We're happy to share that the first 4 Weev FASTER Project units (CCS + Chademo; up to 180kW) in Ireland are now live. Find them in: - Carrickmacross - Carrick-on-Shannon - Navan - Sligo. Check the Weev app for exact locations.

The install button is greyed out for me, on the Play Store. I am in Southern Ireland, so I am thinking this app only for the North.

How would you pay? Mentioned previously that ESB or EPower works.

Thanks

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121779280#Comment_121779280

Just checked there and I'm able to install it, I'm in the republic on an Irish network