Random EV thoughts.....

Modern EVs can typically go 300km+ between charges. Even if a site there in the middle existed it would likely be a single unit that could not be relied up to be free and working and not blocked. Drivers would need to have enough range to reach another site. I would really want a hub every 200km with 4+ units, rather than a scatter of single units that may end up broken for months. In the UK one star said at any point of time 20% of public chargers were not working when tested, even if they showed ok on their own app. I know some units in the field are 10+ years old but it seems lots of sites may be broken for long lengths of time with possibly the supplier not even aware.

It's not working on my phone but I suspect if you look at the ESB Networks capacity map there won't be an enormous amount of substations in that stretch

https://www.esbnetworks.ie/new-connections/generator-connections-group/availability-capacity-map

Without a nearby substation you'll need to pay for fairly considerable grid upgrades to install a decent hub

There's also a question of need, it's likely the vast majority of people looking to charge would be passing through

I'm not a fan of gambling but I'm willing to bet there aren't many apartments in rural Connemara 😜

So most of the locals can charge at home

The distance between Galway and Clifden is ~90km, so there's definitely an opportunity for a charging hub somewhere along there. Close to Maam Cross or Oughterard would probably be the ideal locations

just on the "need" and "passing through"

Is this not what a lot of EV chargers are used for in the first place?

There's generally two use cases for DC chargers

People passing through, the en route charging scenario

People who don't have a home charger, the neighbourhood charger scenario

In the second case you'd want the chargers to be as close to amenities like shops as possible, so you can combine charging with some other purpose

In the first you'd want the chargers as close as possible to the main routes with some conveniences like bathrooms and fast food nearby

I guess with a tourist hotspot like Connemara you could combine the two, like put a hub in Oughterard so people touring the west can grab lunch and charge without being stuck with petrol station food (ugh 🤢)

As I recall there isn't much around Maam Cross. So while it's convenient being on a fairly major crossroads, you wouldn't exactly be eager to hang around

I don't think so

I think it's part of their main loyalty store app. I haven't signed to to it.

Nope, credit/debit cards only

I think it's a €25 block on a debit card to start the charger.

Select the charger, tap card and when the payment goes through the plug unlocks and you can plug in

You need to tap your card again to unlock the screen, stops passers by from stopping your charging session

It was very straightforward when I used it

The business case would be iffy even if there was sufficient power. Half of Connemara shuts down for 6 months during the dark months. Many locals go back to the states and UK during this period.

Locals who do hang around and have EV's would likely charge at home (there's no reason why they wouldn't have a home charger etc.) while at the same time tourism is at a trickle. It's feasible that a HPC along that route could go weeks without custom during the dark months.

Out west is a very big area. If heading to Mayo there's chargers along the way and with the route to Westport included in the latest Zevi grant scheme that part of the west will be covered by the end of 2025. However the business case of having a HPC in the middle of Connemara is questionable. Perhaps the route will be included in a future Zevi grant scheme, I don't know I don't have any insight, but that is probably the only way the area will get a HPC in the next 5 years. Any fast charger installed now will not make back capex cost before it needs replacing.

This is actually a situation where a battery backed charging hub would work very well

You could fit a lot of power into a relatively small grid connection

During the summer months you've enough power stored up to cater to the tourists, then in winter you generate passive income by storing up night rate electricity then selling it back to the grid

Couple it with a solar canopy or nearby ground mounted array and it'd be a nice setup and income generator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122757894#Comment_122757894Consider not just to providing for current EVs but encouraging the take up of EV for future demand.

I'm not sure why your so concerned about the viability. Even a charger running at a net loss had other benefits. This is always going to be the case when providing infrastructure in rural areas. You made me think about profitability. I found this...

"... Forecasting the profitability and cash flows Due to low variable costs the active use of station services is the key to profitability. We notice that the most important factor of charging station success is committed customer who visits the station constantly.

This can be achieved by providing the customers a service that serves their needs (right plug, acceptable duration of charging) where they prefer (shopping centre, parking house) rather than trying to minimise the investment costs or imitate the gas station infrastructure.

Table 2 illustrates that to run a single quick charging station profitably doesn’t necessarily require high EV rates, but rather a handful of dedicated customers. The break-even number is roughly 2500 full charges (20 kWh) per year, which means less than seven customer visits per day. Seven daily visits means either 21 customers visiting every three days or less than four customers visiting twice a day..."

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318306674_The_business_case_of_electric_vehicle_quick_charging_-_no_more_chicken_or_egg_problem

Separately...

I'm not personally concerned about the viability but any private, commercial company must be. They won't remain in business very long if they don't. I agree that there are valuable intangibles to installing there, but only for a state owned network provider.

Even for a commercial company if you get people used to your chargers, get them on a loyalty card, discounted rate, consistent interference and reliable theres a good chance of becoming the preferred network for that customer.

I think it's a bit early with EVs a tiny % of cars on the road to utterly dismiss the idea that more rural and remote locations won't eventually get better charging infrastructure structure.

I'm not saying charging infrastructure will not exist in the future in these locations, it's just at this moment in time I think it's unrealistic to expect private organisations to invest in chargers in locations which haven't a hope of making money.

I will be shocked if at the turn of the decade the N59 is not served by a number of HPC's along with 50 or 60kW chargers located outside libraries etc. I bet my bottom dollar the state will have subsidised the installation.