The Maxol Group has announced its first ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) hubs for the Republic of Ireland at two of its stores.
The hubs will open at Maxol Newbridge, in Kildare, and Maxol Ballycoolin, in Dublin, after an investment worth €2.5 million.
Each location will have six high-speed 200kW chargers, offering a 15-minute charge time.
The chief executive of the Maxol Group, Brian Donaldson, confirmed that the business is considering a further 20 sites in Ireland.
Challenges
While this development indicates significant commitment from Maxol to improve facilities for EVs, it has not been without its challenges, according to Donaldson.
“While our strategy is to offer EV charging in areas where we see greatest demand, the speed at which we can roll out our EV transition programme is hugely frustrating,” he said.
“Access to power capacity and the time it takes to connect to the grid are ongoing challenges, with no immediate improvements in sight.
“The process is not aided by the high costs for substation and connection fees to establish these much-needed hubs in ROI and NI.”
The difficulties involved in connecting to the grid and expanding charging networks are ongoing issues faced by petrol retailers.
They have been barriers to installation, despite the Irish government’s plans to decarbonise the sector.
Advantages
However, retailers have made a persistent effort to instal EV-charging facilities, as they present multiple commercial advantages.
As well as meeting demand in a growing but necessary market, the EV-charging stations mean that customers are likely to engage in the retailer’s business while waiting for their cars to charge.
While developing the EV-charging network, Maxol is taking a full approach to improving sustainability, with the aim of reducing its existing carbon footprint by 40%.
This includes the introduction of solar panels, low-energy CO2 refrigeration, exhaust air-heat pump technology, and an energy management system.
The Newbridge branch will open in March 2024, followed by the Ballycoolin site in May.
Read More: Circle K Expands Electric Vehicle Charger Network
