For years Northern Ireland had just 17 rapid chargers. These ESB devices are often broken, some are behind locked gates at night, while others have been Chademo only. In the latest official figures from the Department for Transport (October 2022, verified by EVANI) that number had grown slowly to 22.
But other charge point operators have been working in the background, watching the unresolved issues with the incumbent network and getting ready to enter the market here. Now, at last, things are starting to change and in the last few months Northern Ireland has seen an additional 21 new rapid chargers open.
Operator | Charger | Location |
BP Pulse | 75kW CCS*** | Knock Rd, Belfast |
BP Pulse | 75kW CCS*** | Knock Rd, Belfast |
EasyGo | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Lidl Shore Rd, Belfast |
EasyGo | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Lidl Castlereagh Rd, Belfast |
EasyGo | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Lidl, James St, Omagh |
EasyGo | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Church St, Maghera |
Maxol | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Belfast Rd, Holywood |
Maxol | 75kW CCS*** | Belfast Rd, Holywood |
Maxol | 75kW CCS*** | Belfast Rd, Holywood |
Maxol | 75kW CCS*** | Belfast Rd, Holywood |
Maxol | 75kW CCS*** | Belfast Rd, Holywood |
Maxol | 200kW CCS | Belfast Rd, Holywood |
MONTA | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Basil Knipe, Ballymoney |
MONTA | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Basil Knipe, Ballymoney* |
Tesla | 250kW CCS | Boucher Rd, Belfast** |
Tesla | 250kW CCS | Boucher Rd, Belfast** |
Tesla | 250kW CCS | Boucher Rd, Belfast** |
Tesla | 250kW CCS | Boucher Rd, Belfast** |
Weev | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Twin Spires, Belfast |
Weev | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Twin Spires, Belfast |
Weev | 50kW CCS / CHAdeMO | Park Centre, Belfast* |
Turned the Corner
We can now say with some confidence that we’ve finally turned the corner here. This is just the start too, and we look forward to seeing all the new infrastructure projects continue to roll out next year, particularly in areas outside of Belfast, like the North West, North Coast, Ards, Newry and Fermanagh etc.
This progress has been made in spite of Stormont, rather than because of it. Once the Executive is up and running it must find the ambition to get on with the job of creating the policies to help remove the hurdles that charge point operators face here and create the conditions to accelerate the pace of change.
*Awaiting commissioning **Tesla only. ***150 kW or 75 kW if both sides in use
Also Weev installing 24kW DC chargers in locations with connections usually only used for AC charging
5 Responses
All good news. I’ve used the Tesla chargers on Boucher Road now, twice. Effortless
In Belfast tomorrow so hope to use Tesla supercharger on my M3
I used the Chademo at Maxol in Holywood on Saturday, a super facility both for charging and the amenities. Full credit to Maxol for creating this and I hope it is the first of many.
On reflection and by contrast it made me angry at the languishing state of ESB network here, broken chargers, free charging, no expansion. Let’s be clear these are decisions ESB have taken, it could be very different but either through choice or incompetence we are at this point. Not forgetting they were gifted the network and are in receipt of £3.2m of Levelling Up funding since late last year, it all adds to the frustration of the inexplicable situation faced by EV drivers.
Still nothing new in Derry
Just one rapid charger at Maxol in Antrim. All ESB chargers in Antrim are barely working or already broken. Last time I have spend about one hour to look for a working charger. Ended up at the Maxol rapid.