The €7m (£5.4m) project was completed working with BMW, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen, and co-funded by the European Union, via the Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T), which aims to improve and establish sustainable links across the continent.

Three rapid charging points are located in Stillorgan and Clonshagh near Dublin, with the remainder installed in Belfast town centre and nearby Newtownabbey on the M2 motorway, and are compatible with the Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO and Type 2 AC standards. These will link with chargers on roads spanning major ferry ports on both sides of the UK.

Deirdre Arthur, Commercial Manager ESB ecars said: “This investment will comprise of more than 70 multi-standard Fast chargers covering some 1,100km of major trunk routes and provide EV-friendly links from Ireland via Dublin and Belfast to UK via Holyhead and Stranraer seaports.

“EV motorists from anywhere in Ireland will now be able to travel to Britain and Europe using this interoperable electric vehicle charging infrastructure.”