We are calling for the Minister for Infrastructure to bring forward a comprehensive, detailed strategy to rapidly expand the public electric vehicle charging network in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s public electric vehicle charging network was world-leading when it was established in 2010. Since then, it has suffered from chronic underinvestment. Northern Ireland now has the lowest number of publicly available charge points per person of any region in the UK and Ireland, and much of the existing infrastructure is so old that it no longer works. For those without access to private driveways, or those who undertake longer journeys, electric cars ownership is increasingly unviable at a time when we should be incentivising people to go electric.

The ESB currently operates the existing charging network, but has limited incentives to invest heavily in it. The Minister for Infrastructure needs to take a lead in this area, and bring forward a comprehensive, detailed strategy for public and private investment to build a thriving commercial electric vehicle market in Northern Ireland.

The UK government has legislated to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. Electric cars will be a vital component of Northern Ireland playing its part in the UK’s net-zero 2050 target. Northern Ireland urgently needs to scale-up its electric vehicle charging network or it is at risk of falling further behind in the transition to a cleaner energy future and tackling the climate emergency.