One charging point for every 30 EVs in Ireland - CSO

According to data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland has one charging point for every 30 electric vehicles (EVs) as of the end of last year. The figures reveal a total of 1,125 electric vehicle charging locations, comprising 3,416 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSEs) or charging points and 3,662 connectors. Of these, 1,883 were classified as fast chargers, accounting for 55% of all charging points. This ratio indicates a significant gap between the current infrastructure and the growing demand for EV charging. The distribution of charging points shows a clear urban bias, with 82% of all locations situated in urban areas. These urban zones also host the majority of EVSEs, fast chargers, and connectors, 76%, 75%, and 76% respectively. This concentration highlights the disparity in access between urban and rural regions. In contrast, counties such as Co Leitrim recorded minimal representation, with just 0.4% of charging locations, 0.3% of EVSEs, and 0.4% of fast chargers. The CSO’s findings indicate that Co Dublin and Co Cork collectively account for 30% of the country’s charging locations, with each county contributing 34% of the total EVSEs and 34% of the fast charging points. This suggests that major metropolitan areas are central to the expansion of EV infrastructure, potentially leaving more remote regions underserved. Meanwhile, Co Leitrim, a relatively sparsely populated county, holds only five charging locations, representing less than one-tenth of one percent of the national total. On a broader European context, the CSO compared Ireland’s charging landscape with that of the EU-27. As of May 2026, 19% of public chargers across the bloc were fast chargers, a figure significantly lower than Ireland’s 55%. Latvia led in fast charger availability, with 59% of its public chargers being fast chargers, whereas the Netherlands and Malta had the lowest shares at 4%. In terms of overall charging density, the EU-27 averaged one charging point for every seven EVs. Ireland, however, lags behind with one per 30 vehicles. The Netherlands reported the lowest ratio, with three EVs per charger, while Malta had the highest, with 91 EVs per charger. For fast chargers specifically, the EU-27 average was one per 37 EVs. Latvia again showed the best performance, with one fast charger for every nine EVs, while Malta had the worst, with one charger for every 2,595 EVs. These disparities underscore the uneven development of EV infrastructure across both Ireland and the wider European Union. While some countries have made strides in deploying fast chargers, others remain far behind. The CSO’s data provides a critical snapshot of the current state of EV charging in Ireland, revealing both progress and challenges. With the continued growth of the electric vehicle market, addressing these gaps will become increasingly urgent. The focus on urban centers must be balanced with efforts to expand charging networks into rural and less accessible areas. As the transition to sustainable transport accelerates, ensuring equitable access to charging facilities will be essential for supporting the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.