ELECTRIC vehicle infrastructure company Weev, the north’s largest privately owned EV charging network, has made its first foray into installations in the burgeoning sports club sector.
Weev (www.weev.ie) has installed a rapid 60kW charger at Patrick Sarsfield GAA club in west Belfast, enabling EV drivers to charge their vehicles in under an hour.
Philip Rainey, chief executive of Weev, said: “When we launched, our mission was to bring charging hubs to a wide variety of sites, meeting the needs of EV drivers where it is most convenient to them.
“That means establishing partnerships in as many different places as possible, especially those areas previously lacking in EV infrastructure.
“Sports clubs play a pivotal role at the heart of their local communities, a place where people meet and spend time together - making them the perfect location for a charging hub.”
Based on the Stewartstown Road, Patrick Sarsfield fields multiple men’s and ladies’ football, hurling and camogie teams, serving hundreds of members in the surrounding area.
Club chair Eamon McGarrigle added: “We're delighted to partner with Weev as we continue to make Patrick Sarsfield a more sustainable club.
“This is a service that can be enjoyed not just by members or people visiting from other teams, but all in our community and beyond with the hub totally open to the public.”
The installation is the latest stage in Weev’s multi-million-pound investment programme that will see thousands of charging points installed over the coming years.
Meanwhile Weev's co-founder and chief commercial officer Thomas O’Hagan has responded to revelations in The Irish News (October 31) that only three councils in the north will avail of new EV charge points through an EU-backed project.
Officially launched in 2021 with a €6.4 million budget, the FASTER Project was designed to provide 73 rapid charging points on council-owned property across Northern Ireland, border counties of the Republic (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Meath) and parts of western Scotland.
Eight councils in Northern Ireland originally signed up to take part in the scheme, which dates back to 2018. But just three councils made it on the final list of provisional sites published in October.
Mr O’Hagan said: “Weev was set up with the aim of improving the provision of EV charging infrastructure where it is most needed.
“We are ready, willing and able to work with councils not included in the FASTER Project, and others, to fully fund the installation of charging hubs that will provide access to a vital service for their ratepayers.
“Working with location partners, we have already launched EV charging hubs in Northern Ireland, including in some of the most under-served areas such as Co Armagh, Fermanagh, Co Derry and beyond.”
