Fastned, a Dutch EV ChargePoint owner-operator, has launched an ultra-rapid charging hub in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. The 400kW hub, powered entirely by renewable energy, marks Fastned’s initial foray into Northern Ireland.
Fastned’s latest ultra-rapid (400kW) charging hub in Banbridge is now the fastest in Northern Ireland and marks the company’s debut in the region. The facility includes twelve charging bays that provide electric drivers with up to 100 miles of charge in just five minutes, all powered by 100% renewable energy.
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“This hub is not only a game-changer for Northern Ireland’s EV drivers, but it marks our first step into the country. We’re excited to see what’s next and to work with others to improve the availability of charging infrastructure in the country.” Tom Hurst, UK and Ireland country director at Fastned, said. Fastned is set to launch its second charging hub in Antrim later in March, offering similar amenities.
Fastned has invested over £3 million in acquiring and developing the Banbridge and Antrim charging hubs. Currently, ultra-rapid charging represents only 4.5% of Northern Ireland’s network, which consists of just 687 chargers serving around 23,000 electric vehicles.
The company points out that the current time and process required to obtain the high-capacity grid connections needed for ultra-rapid charging hubs pose challenges for all charging providers. The brand asserts that a quicker expansion of charging infrastructure is essential to achieve the UK government’s goal of 300,000 public charging stations by 2030 and to facilitate the phase-out of new petrol and diesel vehicles.
An analysis by ZapMap, an EV ChargePoint mapping service, revealed that reducing the value-added tax (VAT) rate for public EV charging to 5%, the same rate as home charging would result in savings for all EV drivers. Even those with home chargers could save £29 annually. Currently, the VAT rate is 5% for domestic energy but 20% for public charging. This higher rate affects drivers without access to at-home charging, forcing them to pay more per charge.
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