Electric Car Charging in Ireland

Ireland is actively promoting the use of electric vehicles as part of our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transport across the country. The government offers incentives and support to encourage EV adoption, including grants for home charging points. Currently, there are approximately 110,000 EVs on Irish roads, that number continues to grow as more people realise the environmental and economic benefits of electric cars. 

For electric vehicles to be adopted well, there needs to be good charging infrastructure. In Ireland, there are two main types of charging options: public stations and home charging points. EV Charging public stations are in different places like shopping centres, car parks, and fuel stations. Yet, many EV owners opt for home charging points for the convenience and cost savings. 

Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant

The Irish government provides a grant through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for home EV chargers, covering up to €300 of the cost of purchase and installation for eligible new or used EV owners or car leaseholders. 

You will require the Letter of Offer from the SEAI to ensure you are eligible for the grant before you purchase the charge point.

How to Apply for a Home Charger Grant

Check Eligibility: You will need to apply online and receive a letter of offer from the SEAI for the charge point grant before purchase and installation. The Letter of Offer will be eligible for six months from the date of the grant offer.

Purchase an EV from partner car dealership: You can receive a free EV charge point and installation from one of our partnered car dealerships: KIA, Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen, Opel, Honda and Jeep.

Sign up to Energia energy: If you purchased an EV car from one of the partnered dealerships, the dealership would pass on your details to Energia to sign you up to our energy services plus receive an EV charge point. 

Installer will contact you: Once you have signed up  to one of Energia's EV tariffs, you will be contacted by our install partners who will assist you in getting your EV home charger installed.

Submit Documentation: After the installation, make sure that all necessary documents aresubmitted to SEAI, such as the electrician's invoice and proof of payment. 

Receive Grant: Once all documentation is reviewed, processed and approved by the SEAI, the grant will go straight to your nominated bank. 

To find out more information, check out the SEAI website. 

Free Home EV Charging Point Offer

New and existing Energia customers can avail of a free home charging point and 20% off renewable electricity, meaning that with the Energia bundle you are all set to go electric. The process is easy, once you’ve purchased your vehicle our switching team will call you to help get everything set up, including installation of your home EV charging point. 

Home charging points are a practical option for Irish electric car owners. EV charging points allow convenient charging at home, typically overnight, and can save a significant amount of money. Government grants and a focus on sustainable transportation make the transition to electric vehicles and setting up a home charging point easier and more worthwhile than ever.

Different Types of Electric Vehicles

There are 3 main types of electric vehicles. We will explain the different types below:

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): 

These electric vehicles have batteries that store electricity and do not have an internal combustion engine, making them the cleanest type of EV.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs): 

PHEVs have electric and either petrol or diesel engines. They can go on electricity first, then petrol or diesel.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs): 

HEVs like Toyota Prius have both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, but it doesn’t need to be plugged in as they charge through braking and the engine itself. 

How to Charge an Electric Vehicle

Charging your electric car at home involves some straightforward steps: 

Install a home car charging point: For efficient charging of an EV at home, you'll need to have a dedicated home charging point installed. This typically requires the services of a certified electrician to properly set up the charger and connect it to your home's electrical system.

Plug In: Plug the charging cable into your EV once the charging point is installed. Your car will start charging right away. 

Monitor Charging: Many modern electric vehicles are equipped with apps that enable users to track the charging progress, create charging schedules, and get alerts once the battery is full. 

What is the maximum size of the electric car wall charger I can install?

In Ireland, the most common home charging points have a power output of 7.4 kW. This is good for overnight charging and works well for most households. You can also install higher capacity chargers like 11 kW or 22 kW units if your home's electrical system allows it. These higher-capacity chargers need a three-phase electrical supply, which is not as common in residential properties. 

How Often Do You Have to Charge an Electric Car?

How often you should charge an electric car depends on the battery size and the daily mileage. Larger batteries and longer daily distances require less frequent charging. To prevent degradation from overheating due to constant charging, EV batteries should be charged only up to 80% capacity for optimal efficiency. 

How Long Does It Take to Charge an EV at Home?

The charging duration for electric cars depends on factors like the power output, charger speed, plug type, and battery capacity. 

Depending on the model of the car and the type of connector it could take you anywhere between 4 and 22 hours to charge your car at home. Normally, you can fill your EV from empty to full within 8 hours. More powerful cars with greater ranges take the longest, and the cheaper, smaller models are the fastest.