A surge in electric car sales could require big changes in the way tourists travel around the country, according to the Irish tourism industry.
Officials have begun planning for rapid growth in electric cars in the coming years as climate change ushers in changes in how visitors explore Ireland.
Failte Ireland, the state tourism authority, plans to have completed a study of the country’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure by the end of June in preparation for an increase in “sustainable car tourism”.
Tourism officials seek opinions on how electric vehicles will transform travel in Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)
(PA Archive)
A spokesman for Failte Ireland confirmed to the PA news agency that they have started planning for the growth of electric vehicles in Ireland.
“Failte Ireland looks forward to the Government’s ambitious plans to significantly increase the number of electric vehicles on our roads by 2030,” the spokesman said.
Ireland plans to have one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030.
“In anticipation of this we recognize that it will change the way both local and international visitors travel across Ireland to enjoy attractions and scenery,” said the spokesman.
“This study is the first baseline attempt to understand what these changes might look like and helps us to consider what developments might be needed as a result.”
In the tender document for the study, Failte Ireland said: “The ultimate aim is to identify the infrastructure required and the frequency of e-charging stations to support sustainable car tours, to allow international and domestic visitors to travel freely and without range anxiety across Ireland. ”
The Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East are among the country’s visitor attractions, some of which rely on tourists visiting a number of sites with a vehicle.
In the same document, Failte Ireland states: “There is a perception, which may or may not be true, that EV owners have little opportunity to travel beyond their own EV charging infrastructure cluster, which, if true, is a limiting factor for tourism would be. ”
The study is expected to include an examination of public and private charging facilities across Ireland and the identification of visitor attractions and accommodation where visitors can stay long enough to charge a vehicle.
