Further £6.3 million to accelerate delivery of EV charge points

There are now over 6000 public electric vehicle (EV) charge points across Scotland. More charging opportunities means greater range confidence for EV drivers - supporting the transition to a net zero transport system.

The target of 6000 charge points has been met two years earlier than planned through a combination of Scottish Government funding, increasing private sector investment and local authority planning and leadership.

To further accelerate the pace and scale of charging infrastructure delivery, £6.3 million has been awarded through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund to support 11 Local Authorities across Glasgow City Region and Ayrshire region.

First Minister John Swinney said:

"This announcement is clear evidence of our commitment to making sustainable travel accessible for everyone in Scotland.

"We need to maintain this rapid progress, working in greater partnership with the private sector to accelerate the pace and scale of delivery right across the country.

"By fast-tracking EV infrastructure, we're paving the way for a net-zero Scotland while advancing our goal to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:

"In 2023, we published our Vision for public EV charging infrastructure, highlighting the key role the private sector will play in delivering Scotland's future EV charging requirements for public charging.

"Through our £30 million EV Infrastructure Fund we are continuing to support public EV charging; providing Local Authorities with funding to enable them to work in partnership with the private sector to continue to expand public EV charging across Scotland.

"This approach is paying dividends - ensuring faster delivery and greater reliability of public charge points across the country. I'm pleased to welcome the matched investment from businesses such as IONITY which is helping to scale up the provision of public EV charging across Scotland."

IONITY Country (UK & Ireland) Manager Andreas Atkins said:

"For Scotland to have reached its ambitious target of delivering 6,000 public chargers well ahead of its 2026 target is a huge achievement, especially in such a difficult economic environment at present in the UK.

"A continued collaborative approach between the public sector and private industry is required to tackle and deliver the roadmap for net zero transport, and IONITY will continue to play a key role in this.

"We have already injected £20 million investment in Scotland by the end of 2025, with a further £20 million committed into Scotland by 2028 - delivering 100% green electricity through our chargers from Scotland's main cities to the West Coast and the Highlands.

"Not only will we enable electric transit right across Scotland, but our charging hub site partners, such as food and beverage retailers, retail parks and hospitality venues will directly benefit. The IONITY hubs are introducing those businesses - and wider local economies - to new revenue streams and additional footfall, bringing entire communities with us into the era of electric vehicles."

Zapmap COO and Co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham said:

"Reaching the milestone of 6,000 public chargers across Scotland is a significant achievement, with the Scottish government showing great commitment to the EV sector with the forward looking investment in the ChargePlace Scotland network over the last decade. This has then been supplemented with other private networks and investment across the country. Since the target of 6,000 public EV charge points by 2026 was announced by the Scottish Government in June 2023, charge point infrastructure has grown at an impressive rate - up 49% from 4,023 in June 2023.

"This number covers many different charging use cases across diverse locations, from low powered on-street chargers to destination chargers at scenic spots to 150kW+ charging hubs.

"It's exciting to see charging hubs being established across the country, from Inverness and Aberdeen in the north to around the urban centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh. This infrastructure not only supports Scottish EV drivers in their daily travels but also enables visitors to explore the stunning Scottish landscape with confidence on longer journeys."

Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Region Cabinet Chair and Leader of Glasgow City Council said:

"Electric vehicles are to key to reducing carbon emissions and the expanded charging network this funding will deliver can persuade more citizens across the City Region to switch to electric.

"And in creating the biggest network of charge points across Scotland's most populous communities we can make a real impact on our national climate targets."

Director of the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland Neil Swanson said:

"The Association recognises the huge growth in EV infrastructure in Scotland, and breaking through 6000 public charge points is a magnificent start on the transition for all.

"Maintaining the momentum on these targets and ensuring that the just transition is delivered is absolutely key. The rollout of EVIF is critical in rural areas and urban settings to support EV adoption for private and commercial users."

Background

Since 2011 the Scottish Government has invested over £65 million in public EV charging. Charge point data provider ZapMap has confirmed Scotland had 6,030 public charge points as of 31 October, delivered through a combination of public and increasing private sector investment.

As a direct result, per head of population, Scotland has more public EV charge points than any other part of the UK, except London. Scotland also benefits from more rapid public EV charge points than any other UK region,

The Scottish public EV charging Vision was published in June 2023 and sets out the ambition to see a comprehensive, convenient and efficient network. The Scottish Government has announced a commitment to enabling approximately 24,000 additional public charge points by 2030, and expects the majority of these to be delivered by the private sector.

Public charge points are only one part of the overall charging mix. The Scottish Government has also provided £5.7 million to support the installation of 18,861 domestic charge points and £10.8 million to support 1,432 higher powered workplace charge points - all complementing the public network.

Map of electric charging points for electric cars UK: Zapmap (zap-map.com)

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