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NI EV Consortium awarded funding for On-Street Residential Charge-point Scheme

On 23 August 2022, the Department for Infrastructure officially welcomed the offer of funding of £1,348,370 from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) for electric vehicle charge-points in residential areas across Northern Ireland.

Last Spring the EV Consortium of local councils, led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, presented a proposal for funding awarded by OZEV and match-funding from the Department for Infrastructure of £500,000, for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS).

This will allow local councils across Northern Ireland to install 124 on-street EV charge points for local residents wishing to charge their plug-in electric vehicles close to their home.

SNI Executive Director, Nichola Hughes, commented: “We are delighted that the application was successful and we were pleased to have supported councils throughout the process.

The funding will mean more people can access an EV charge point and facilitate a consumer shift towards electric vehicles. Northern Ireland is highly car-dependent with over 70% of all journeys here currently being made by car. Government has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and reliable EV infrastructure alongside improvements to public transport and active travel infrastructure will be key to getting the public to switch to zero carbon forms of transport.

Moving away from fossil fuel-based transport systems has multiple benefits. As well as reducing carbon emissions it saves money, reduces air pollution and offers consumers protection from volatility in global energy markets by utilising local renewable electricity over imported fossil fuels."

The DfI press release can be read here.