ELECTRIC vehicle (EV) infrastructure company Weev has opened a new charging hub at the Twin Spires Complex in Belfast – the first multi-point rapid charging facility in the fully open to the public and all vehicle manufacturers.
The hub, just off the Westlink, enables EV drivers to charge their vehicles in around 45 minutes providing a speedy service in a strategically convenient location.
Weev has installed two 50kw DC rapid chargers at the business and retail site.
The actual cost to charge an EV at a public hub is complex and depends on a vehicle's battery capacity.
The Weev network charges £0.59 per kWh. There is a vast range of car battery sizes from around 40kWh capacity to some newer models with as much as 100 kWh capacity.
So effectively a 40kWh capacity vehicle would cost £23.60 to charge from full to empty while a 100kWh EV would cost £59.
Weev's operations manager Ciara Campbell said: “We were established to address the urgent need for EV charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland, and we hope to continue to make a real difference by installing 1,500 new electric vehicle charging points at even more convenient locations right across the region.
“This is another important step forward in our project to move Northern Ireland’s EV charging network out of the slow lane.
“The installation of the rapid charging hub at the Twin Spires complex serves as a perfect demonstration of our commitment to ensuring convenience and accessibility for all EV drivers.
“Motorists will be able to access the facility regardless of the make of their vehicle and we estimate charging the average vehicle from 20 per cent to 80 per cent will take around 45 minutes.”
The Twin Spires complex, which has over 80 tenants from a range of industries, is operated by Ortus Property Services, whose property development executive Noel Rooney said: “We consistently aim to provide services and amenities that offer real benefit to our business tenants and their customers.
“Our business park provides the ideal location for the installation of new EV chargers owing to its proximity to both the Westlink M1 and Belfast City Centre, meaning even more drivers can avail of hassle-free, rapid charging.
“We look forward to working in partnership with Weev and to welcoming many more EV drivers to Twin Spires.”
Rachel Reid from the Electric Vehicle Association Northern Ireland (EVANI) added: “Developing Northern Ireland’s EV charging infrastructure is vitally important, in terms of future-proofing the automotive sector and promoting sustainability amongst drivers.
“It is great to see companies such as Weev stepping up to the plate to provide convenient charging points for drivers at Twin Spires as well as across Northern Ireland as a whole.
“Our organisation is dedicated to promoting EVs and representing the interests of their users and we are excited to be working in partnership with Weev as the company continues its ambitious infrastructure plans.”
The installation forms part of Weev’s £20 million investment in a new public EV charging network, which will see 1,500 new charging points installed over 350 locations across Northern Ireland by the end of 2024.
For more information about Weev’s domestic and fleet charging options, wider charging network and EV range please visit: www.weev.ie.
ENDS