Random EV thoughts.....

just on the "need" and "passing through"

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

I don't think so

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

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...

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.

What % of EVs on the road can do 400km. Kinda ignoring all the older and small battery EVs with that.

From personal experience 95% of my driving is from the home charger. But on the few occasions I've been on a long trip a public AC charger for a top up on a day trip has been useful to me now and then.

Even at home I'll often top up for 30-50 mins because the car is just sitting there and its useful to shorten my charging time later, or handy in case of unexpected journey. But perhaps that's a small battery older EV habit.

I just think let's not ignore cheap and cheerful because we can't get high speed.