Laois going green with public EV chargers in nine towns

Laois is going green and electric with a wave of 14 EV car chargers planned across the county's towns.

Portlaoise already has multiple public EV chargers, in Lyster Square, Lidl, the train station and some service stations, but it will get six of the 14 new chargers.

They are to be installed in the council's new 93 space carpark beside Portlaoise Train Station. That carpark will open in September, aimed at encouraging people to use public transport and cut carbon use.

Eight other towns are getting the EV chargers which will serve two parking spaces.

The others are Portarlington, O'Connell Square in Mountmellick, Market Square in Abbeyleix, Graiguecullen, Mountrath, Stradbally, The Square in Rathdowney, and Durrow.

The chargers are part of a contract with Eir/EasyGo which only costs the user, not the council. 

The Director of Services Simon Walton said Laois will be among the first counties to offer chargers in every town.

"The Department of Transport has established a company to roll out infrastructure. It will take time to develop those plans, on the basis that the department funds them. 

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"In the meantime, Laois County Council entered this contract, at zero cost to Laois County Council. This provides hopefully an early introduction of charge points," he said.

The details were given to the June meeting and welcomed by county councillors. No date was given for when the chargers will be installed and activated.