FASTER Project Launch Electric Vehicle Survey

The FASTER Project is inviting the public to participate in a new survey examining driving behaviours and attitudes to Electric Vehicles (EVs).

Led by East Border Region Ltd in partnership with organisations including South West College and Ulster University, Louth County Council and Dundalk IT, this €6.4 million EU INTERREG VA funded project will help reduce the impact of fossil fuels and transport emissions through the delivery of 73 new publicly accessible rapid charging points across Western Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Border Region in the Republic of Ireland to support drivers as they make the switch to electric vehicles.

The FASTER [Facilitating a Sustainable Transition to EVs in the Region] Project is currently working with several county councils along the border to identify suitable locations for this vital infrastructure which will be installed on a rolling basis over the next 6 to 18 months.

While it’s estimated that up to 80% of EV charging will take place at home, the number of public EV chargers is widely regarded as one of the key obstacles for those drivers considering the switch to electric. The FASTER Project will deliver effective solutions to help overcome this barrier and will educate drivers on electric vehicles and the benefits they can bring.

Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), which manages the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, said:

“As the effects of climate change increase dramatically we need to invest seriously in measures which will cut carbon emissions. Electric vehicles represent a more eco-friendly form of transport which will have a reduced impact on the environment.

This new EU-funded project has been specifically designed to remove some of the obstacles that have previously discouraged people from choosing electric vehicles. It also represents one of the core objectives of the INTERREG VA Programme, which supports sustainable transport, on a cross-border basis.”

East Border Region Chairman Cllr Kyle Savage, said:

“EBR are delighted to be Lead Partner on this innovative and genuinely cross-border project which will see essential Electric Vehicle infrastructure installed across the three jurisdictions. Electric Vehicles are an essential strategy in the immediate term to reduce local emissions and help improve local air quality.”

The FASTER Project partnership in collaboration with Transport Research Partnership is now calling on the public to participate in a short survey which will examine the current travel needs and behaviours of vehicle users across the island. This survey will identify preferences on vehicle ownership, fuel choice, the types of journeys drivers are making daily and will explore the factors & influences which are leading the shift towards electric vehicles.

The public survey is available online until Tuesday 20^th July and can be completed at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FasterEVs