Members of the Steering Committee at the FASTER Project launch in Armagh The FASTER Project has been officially launched at an event in Armagh that brought together project partners from across Western Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the border region of the Republic of Ireland.
This EU-funded project will see the installation of 73 Rapid Charging Points across the three regions, supported by €6.4 million in funding under the EU INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The FASTER EV charging network will be installed on a phased basis over the next 18 months, supported by a series of public awareness and community engagement events, promotional campaigns and initiatives to address public concerns with existing charging infrastructure and produce materials to support the transition to low emission vehicles.
The project is being led by East Border Region, a local authority-led, cross-border organisation, in partnership with a cross-border consortium which includes Ulster University, South West College, University of Strathclyde, HiTrans, Louth County Council and Dundalk Institute of Technology.
The Consortium is already working with a range of Local Authorities across the three regions to identify suitable locations for the new infrastructure, which support the switch to more electric vehicles on our roads through the availability of more public charge points for EVs in key locations.
Match-funding for the project has also been provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport in Ireland.
Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said:
“Electric vehicles play a vital role in decarbonising our transport sector. The rollout of 73 rapid charging stations, as part of the EU INTERREG VA programme, will further incentivise the switch away from fossil fuel vehicles and will benefit drivers across all three jurisdictions. We look forward to working with SEUPB and our Partners in the implementation of this project.”
Gina McIntyre Chief Executive of the SEUPB said:
“Transport, on both sides of the border, is dominated by car usage, which is only increasing as our population grows. This is not sustainable as the stark realities of irreversible climate change are becoming more and more evident across the world. This new EU INTERREG VA-funded project will create a readily accessible cross-border infrastructure that will encourage increased use of electric vehicles. It will help to address many of the issues that discourage people from using this form of transport and contribute to a reduction in harmful carbon emissions that have such a negative impact upon our environment. I really look forward to hearing how this very important cross-border partnership progresses over the coming months ahead.”
Cllr Kyle Savage Chairman of East Border Region said:
“East Border Region are delighted to be Lead Partner on this innovative project which will provide much needed EV charging infrastructure across the three jurisdictions. This project clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of cross border collaboration between a range of key stakeholders, and the benefits to be gained by adopting a strategic approach to sustainable infrastructure development”
Further information about the FASTER Project will be available from a dedicated website and social media channels scheduled to launch this September.