Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke TD has officially opened SSE’s first ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in Ireland. The facility, located at Lough Sheever Corporate Park in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, features 10 charging bays capable of delivering up to 150 kilowatts (kW) per bay.
The Mullingar hub is part of SSE’s broader plan to construct 300 ultra-rapid EV charging hubs across the UK and Ireland over the next five years. This initiative aims to support Ireland’s growing demand for EV charging infrastructure, aligning with the government’s National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy and draft National En-Route EV Charging Plan.
A unique aspect of the Mullingar site is its accommodation for electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), with four long wheelbase drive-through bays specifically designed for this purpose. This makes it the first facility of its kind in Ireland.
The hub also offers Tap’n’Go payment options and integrates with SSE’s roaming payment partner Octopus Electroverse, aiming to provide convenient access for users.
“With the number of EVs on Irish roads growing quickly, the deployment of fast and reliable EV charging infrastructure is essential,” said Sean O’Callaghan, SSE’s EV Operations Director. “The launch of our first ultra-rapid charging hub in Ireland is proof that SSE will support the Irish Government’s ambitions to meet the demand for this infrastructure.”
Minister Burke commented on the importance of private investment in meeting Ireland’s climate targets: “To reduce transport emissions and meet our climate targets, the Government is committed to promoting and incentivising the use of EVs,” he said. “Private investment like this is essential to grow the network with the pace and scale required to meet Ireland’s ambitious targets.”
SSE plans to open additional hubs in various Irish locations, including Blanchardstown Business Park and Greenogue Industrial Estate in County Dublin, and Ashbourne Retail Park in County Meath.
The company recently announced a joint venture with TotalEnergies under the brand ‘Source,’ which aims to establish a major player in EV charging infrastructure in the UK and Ireland. This venture plans to deploy up to 3000 ultra-rapid charge points over the next five years, with existing SSE charging hubs to be rebranded as Source in the future.
