Technology giant Intel and energy provider ESB revealed during the launch of electric charge points their collaborative plans to roll out “ecars” in Ireland.
The announcement was made at the launch of an electric charge point at the Intel Ireland campus in Leixlip, where Martin Curley, director, Intel Labs Europe and senior principal engineer, Intel Corporation, and Paul Mulvaney, managing director, ESB ecars, were present.
ESB ecars and Intel’s sustainability and enterprise services lab, which is part of Intel Labs Europe, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the challenges of integrating electric vehicles into the electricity grid.
The ESB plans to build a nationwide charging infrastructure to meet the Government’s 2020 targets of 10pc of all vehicles to be electric. Designed to bolster adoption of electric cars, the ecar, which research began on in May of this year, is being trialled to “support the planning and implementation of the nationwide charging infrastructure using the all-electric, Mitsubishi i-MiEV throughout Ireland”.
Delighted to team up with Intel
“The successful transition to sustainable transport requires the involvement of Government, the car industry, as well as commitment from the business community. Ireland is leading the way and with such innovation and with leadership from companies such as Intel, our international position is further strengthened. ESB ecars is delighted to team up with Intel and to embrace the opportunities that this new innovative and exciting market presents,” said Mulvaney.
Speaking at the launch, Curley said, “We are delighted to collaborate and announce this MOU signing with the ESB to create a joint innovation and research program including a focused test bed for electric vehicles (EVs) and home energy management systems. This will be an important step in helping Ireland fulfil its commitments to the EU 2020 goals and take us closer to a more sustainable society.”
Plans for 1,500 on-street charge points, 2,000 domestic units and up to 30 fast chargers are planned by the ESB by the end of 2011. On-street charge points have already been installed in Dublin, Galway and Cavan.
