ESB raises public EV charger rates by 24% since June

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) has lifted the price of electricity at its public electric‑vehicle (EV) charging points by 24 % since June.

According to Shane O’Donoghue, editor of CompleteCar.ie, the new rate of €0.85 per kilowatt‑hour makes fast chargers – which deliver between 50 kW and 350 kW – more expensive than filling a diesel car, even with diesel currently above €2 per litre. He estimated that adding 50 kWh would cost roughly €42‑€50 and provide about 300 km of range.

Impact on EV uptake

O’Donoghue warned that the timing of the increase could deter drivers from choosing lower‑carbon vehicles, noting Ireland’s climate targets and the push for electric and plug‑in hybrid cars. While many owners may rely on home charging, domestic electricity prices are also rising.

Data from the CSO released in August 2026 showed that 26 % of cars sold in Ireland in July were EVs, alongside 24.6 % petrol hybrids, 20.4 % petrol cars, 14.5 % plug‑in hybrids and 12.5 % diesels. It remains to be seen how the higher public‑charging costs will affect these market shares for the rest of the year.

Source: Newstalk. Photo: Kindel Media / Pexels.