No EV chargers or filling station in Laois town as tens of thousands expected for Electric Picnic

Electricity will be distinctly lacking for any EV drivers seeking to recharge at this year’s Electric Picnic, organisers have advised.  

Despite the anticipated arrival of 75,000 daily visitors for Electric Picnic 2024 and Ireland’s push for electric vehicle use, Stradbally- which hosts the annual music and arts festival- has neither a filling station or Electric Vehicle(EV) charging point for visiting motorists.  

Local Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy advised Electric Picnic festival goers to arrive at the event fully charged and topped up with fuel as he confirmed that diesel, petrol and EV chargers are unavailable in the town. 

He had raised the issue of EV chargers for Stradbally in a motion at the September 2023 meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District last year. He said some EV drivers had become stranded at the festival as a result of the lack of charging infrastructure. 

In a written response to that motion last year, Laois County Council Senior Roads Engineer, Paul McLoughlin had said: “An application has been made to the ESB to determine the connection viability/requirements and fees payable for a location on the main street near the Garda Station.

Once the ESB have confirmed same the fee will be paid and the required connection works undertaken to facilitate the charger installation. It is expected that the installation will take place towards the end of the year.”

Despite the assurance, Cllr McEvoy confirmed no EV chargers had yet been installed in the town and he didn’t expect to see any in place before the Electric Picnic festival gets underway this year.   

Electric Picnic organisers confirmed they will not have Electric Vehicle charging stations at the festival and they too advised Electric Picnic attendees to arrive fully charged.