Gaeltec Utilities Ltd, a Kilkenny-based company that specialises in design, installation, and commissioning in the energy, renewable and telecommunications sectors, has been successful in winning a contract from ESB e-cars to install home charge points for electric cars nationwide.
The company has also integrated the first electric vehicle into its own commercial fleet of over 80 vehicles. ESB ecars, responsible for the rollout of the nationwide charging infrastructure, has awarded Gaeltec a sizeable proportion of a contract to install up to 2,000 home charge points. Through a home charge point electric cars are fully charged overnight from the homeowner’s domestic electricity supply. In addition to the roll out of home charge points, ESB ecars is rolling out the network of public and fast charge points across Ireland as well as implementing the supporting IT systems.
Gaeltec Utilities based in Kilkenny at Danville Business Park, was founded in 2003 and now employs 170 people in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The company has been growing steadily and this is the latest in a series of major wins. Gaeltec Utilities, on behalf of ESB ecars, has started to install charge points throughout Ireland in line with electric cars sales. It is Irish Government policy that by the year 2020, 10 per cent of all cars will be powered by electricity which will translate into a substantial demand for home charge points to meet the demands of electric car owners.
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan launched the first electric vehicle into the Gaeltec Utilities fleet. Minister Hogan wished the Kilkenny company continued success and congratulated the company on its achievement in obtaining such a high-profile contract and on their launch of the company’s first electric vehicle.
Speaking at the launch of the first electric vehicle, Mr Sean Hannick, director of Gaeltec Utilities, said his company was delighted to have been successful in obtaining a contract of such significance.
“We have given a lot of thought on how we are going to contribute to a sustainable future for Ireland. We saw the integration of an electric vehicle into the company fleet and the contract award for the installation of charging points as an opportunity for our company to demonstrate the importance of protecting the environment by participating in the national target to reduce emissions. We intend to add more electric vehicles to our fleet in the future and we are committed to assisting the Minister and his Government in achieving their environmental targets.”
