Public charging in Ireland: networks, connectors and how to pay
Contents
Most people who buy a used electric car do nearly all their charging at home, overnight, on a wallbox in the driveway. But for longer trips you will sometimes charge in public, and that is where the networks, the connectors and the way you pay all matter. This guide sets out the three things a used-EV owner actually needs to know.
AC vs DC, in plain English
Public charging comes in two broad kinds. Slower AC charging is the kind you find at destinations and on-street, where you leave the car parked for a while and it tops up gradually. It uses a Type 2 connector, the same as home charging.
Faster DC charging - usually called rapid or high power - is what you use for a quick top-up partway through a journey. It uses CCS on most modern EVs, with some older models on CHAdeMO. The job of DC charging is to put useful range back in while you grab a coffee, rather than to sit overnight.
The networks
A handful of networks run the public chargers you will meet in Ireland.
- ESB ecars is the biggest by far. ESB owns, operates and maintains more than 1,600 public charge points nationwide, and its public chargers come in tiers - standard, fast, and high power.
- IONITY runs high-power chargers at Circle K sites.
- Tesla operates its own charging network.
- EasyGo runs its own network and, through its EZO app, also gives roaming access across other networks.
The network keeps growing. Additional high-power hubs are being added through 2026 - for example, a high-power hub launched at Bunratty in June 2026.
How to pay
There are three normal ways to pay at a public charger:
- A network app - ESB's ecar connect or EasyGo's EZO - which starts the session and handles payment.
- An access card (RFID) that you tap on the charger.
- Contactless tap-to-pay, supported on newer and high-power points.
One useful shortcut is roaming. EasyGo's EZO app lets you start and pay for charging at EasyGo's own points plus ESB ecars, IONITY and others from the one app, without setting up a separate account or carrying a separate card for each network.
Check the connector for your car
The connector is the part that has to match. AC charging uses Type 2. DC rapid and high-power charging use CCS on most modern EVs, while some older models - the early Nissan Leaf is the usual example - use CHAdeMO. So before you rely on a particular charger, check what your specific car takes.
If you charge at home as well as in public, our guide to charging a used EV at home covers the Type 2 side in detail. And when you are shortlisting a car, every used electric car on ShamAuto shows the details you need to pin down its charging.
Public charging at a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Biggest network | ESB ecars - 1,600+ public charge points nationwide |
| Other networks | IONITY (Circle K), Tesla, EasyGo |
| Charging types | AC (Type 2) for slower destination charging; DC rapid/high power (CCS, some older CHAdeMO) for journeys |
| How to pay | Network app (ecar connect or EZO), access card (RFID), or contactless on newer points |
| Roaming | EasyGo's EZO app works across EasyGo, ESB ecars, IONITY and others |
| Prices | Vary by network - check the network's own site or app |
Last verified: 17/06/2026
Networks, charger tiers and prices change over time, and new hubs keep opening. Before you rely on anything here, confirm the current picture on the networks' own pages: ESB ecars and EasyGo.
Where to go next
Public charging is one piece of living with a used EV. To work out what a charge costs on your own rate, use our cost-to-charge calculator. If you are still choosing a car, the used-EV buyer's checklist walks a viewing in the right order, and our explainer on real-world range vs WLTP shows how far a car really goes between charges. When you are ready to look, you can browse used electric cars.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest EV charging network in Ireland?
ESB ecars is the largest public charging network in Ireland. ESB owns, operates and maintains more than 1,600 public charge points nationwide.
How do I pay for public charging?
You pay with a network app such as ESB's ecar connect or EasyGo's EZO, with an access card you tap on the charger, or with contactless tap-to-pay on newer and high-power points. Prices vary by network, so check the network's own site or app for the current tariff before you charge.
What connector do I need for public charging?
AC charging uses a Type 2 connector. DC rapid and high-power charging use CCS on most modern EVs, while some older EVs such as the early Nissan Leaf use CHAdeMO. Check which connector your specific car takes.
Can one app work across several networks?
Yes. EasyGo's EZO app gives interoperable (roaming) access, so you can start and pay for charging at EasyGo's own points plus ESB ecars, IONITY and others from the one app, without separate accounts or cards.