FASTER

East Border Region (EBR), in conjunction with partners The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), Ulster University, South West College, University of Strathclyde and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), have designed, installed and operate 73 rapid charging points at easily accessible areas of defined need across Northern Ireland, Ireland and Scotland. This EU investment in an electric vehicle charging project will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels by encouraging citizens to opt for a greener, more sustainable form of transport. 

The governments of Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland all have a common policy, to transition to a low carbon transport system by 2040. One of the ways that this can be achieved is to encourage the public uptake of electric vehicles, but without the presence of adequate public charging infrastructure, this has been a challenge. Implementation of the FASTER project ensures that going forward the availability of rapid charging stations will not be an obstacle to the growth of the electric vehicle market in the three jurisdictions. 

An additional 73 rapid chargers to be made available in the three programme jurisdictions by 2023 to complement the existing Trans-European Transport Network, a policy promoting transport networks connectivity across Europe. 

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, help improve local air quality and assist local authorities to meet their carbon reduction targets. The behavioural change aspect of the project will help promote the benefits of EV’s, remove barriers, increase their usage and thus contribute towards sustainable transport across the 3 Regions

Councillor Kyle Savage, Chairman of East Border Region. 

Climate change is an international issue, and we will only be able to combat it through international cooperation, with initiatives such as the INTERREG VA cross-border programme. This project will further Scotland’s journey to accessible and sustainable transport infrastructure...particularly across rural areas. Undoubtedly, it will have wide reaching benefits, not just for local communities, but for tourism and other businesses as we continue to support a shift to more environmentally friendly modes of travel.

Michael Matheson, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity.