Twelve new electric vehicle chargers will be added to the Circle K network in an expansion with Ionity, it was announced today.
Six sites across the country will have the new electric vehicle (EV) chargers installed.
Ionity Chargers
The locations of the new charging points are: Athlone, Co. Westmeath; Gorey, Co. Wexford; City North, Co. Meath; Cashel, Co. Tipperary; and Kill North and Kill South, Co. Kildare.
Each site will be getting two new charging stations, with the exception of City North, Co. Meath, which will have four installed.
This will bring the total number of charging points at each location listed to six.
The expansion will bring the total number of Ionity rapid EV chargers at Circle K locations to 36.
Changing Landscape
Jonathan Diver, fuel director with Circle K Ireland, praised the partnership with Ionity and their combined efforts to change with the motoring landscape.
However, Diver highlighted the difficulties encountered during the expansion, saying, “Despite the challenges posed by the high costs and lengthy lead times in securing a grid connection, our team is working hard to provide more high-power charging points for customers throughout the country.”
The move comes as part of Circle K’s support for the Irish government’s plans to decarbonise the transport sector, as outlined in the Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022 – 2025.
Recognising this, Ionity’s country manager of the UK and Ireland, Andreas Atkins, said, “The expansion of our charging hubs supports the Irish government’s decarbonisation plans, but it also means that EV drivers across Ireland can travel at ease.”
Expansion
In the coming 18 months, Circle K will be expanding the roll-out of its own branded EV chargers across 30 new sites.
This development represents an investment of €7 million and will add to its existing EV charging network across 44 service stations.
As part of the investment, Circle K EV chargers are now open at Circle K Fermoy Junction 14 M8, Circle K Carlow Junction 5 M9, and Circle K Athlone M6.
The installation of four new charging locations has also been completed at Circle K’s forecourts in Westview, Artane and Ashtown, in Co. Dublin, and Gallowshill, in Co. Waterford, which are currently awaiting power connection before they are available to customers.