Press release

ESB to build infrastructure required in Ireland for electric vehicles

27th October 2009:

ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, on behalf of Europe’s electricity companies, today (Tuesday, Oct 27th) presented the EU Transport Commissioner, Mr Antonio Tajani, with a Declaration designed to pave the way for the widespread introduction of electric vehicles.

Europe’s electricity companies have come together to standardize the apparatus necessary for the recharging of electric vehicles across Europe. Co-operation between the utilities is seen as vital for the rapid introduction of electric vehicles across the Continent, allowing motorists in every country to avail of the same charging system.

ESB is to build the infrastructure required in Ireland for electric vehicles.

Chief Executives of the major electricity companies have been discussing how the industry at large can decarbonise power generation. Decarbonised electricity could then be used to fuel the transport sector which is responsible for a large percentage of Co2 emissions. The signatories to the Declaration confirm their determination to cooperate with the various stakeholders towards the development and application of industry pre-standards until standards have been set by the official standards bodies ISO/IEC.

Today in Brussels, the electricity companies presented the Transport Commissioner with a Declaration of their intent to join forces and press ahead with a standardized system for recharging vehicles.

Presenting the Declaration on behalf of the electricity companies, Padraig McManus said, the transport sector, according to figures in the European Commission’s Second Strategic Energy Review, is today responsible for 23% of total EU carbon dioxide emissions.

“Electricity generated from low-carbon energy sources can, when used to power road vehicles, make a real contribution towards reducing the carbon output of the transport sector. Moreover, Electric road transport not only cuts emissions but also boosts EU energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels,” Mr McManus pointed out.

“Setting standards for plug-in vehicle charging infrastructure will provide benefits to all stakeholders – the car industry, equipment manufacturers, electricity companies and above all the customer, who will thus enjoy real choice and genuine Europe-wide electric mobility. Cross industry agreement is an indispensable step to facilitate broad market penetration and will allow Europe to become a front runner in the roll-out of mass-market electric vehicles”, he added.

EU Transport Commissioner and vice-President of the Commission, Antonio Tajani said the move has the potential to significantly contribute to sustainable mobility for European citizens and to meeting the EU energy-climate policy targets”.

“Accordingly, the Declaration on Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles calls upon all stakeholders, transport and energy policymakers, companies in the relevant sectors and the official standards bodies to support and give impulse to the drive towards standardisation in this field”, he added.

Fifty representatives of European electricity companies, power distribution system operators and national electricity sector associations attended.

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