Dundee funding boost for EV chargers

Dundee could see more than £600,000 worth of new EV chargers and other infrastructure thanks to grants from the UK and Scottish governments.

A new report reveals the cash, from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), Transport Scotland and Air Quality Funding, will be used to boost sites in the city.

Lynne Short convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “This is the second grant from OLEV and is specifically aimed at the city’s growing electric taxi fleet that has so far been benefitting from the publically available charging points.

“We are still widely recognised as the leading European city when it comes to promoting and supporting the use of zero and low emission vehicles. This money will help to keep us at the forefront of that revolution and support the expansion of a pure electric and private hire fleet in the city.”

Four projects will share a combined £603,000 in grants.

A pair of new chargers at the recently approved Princess Street Hub will be given priority for taxis; at St Anne Lane car park another two rapid chargers will also be given priority for taxis and at Queen Street car park there will be a single taxi priority rapid charger installed.

In addition, there are plans to fit single rapid chargers at strategic locations in the city that will support the uptake of electric vehicles, with sites including Ninewells Hospital, city centre and at key hotels.
The report which will be considered by the city development committee on Monday (September 25).

A council steering group has been set up to manage the projects.

Work on the new charging hub is expected to start in autumn and it is planned to be up and running by the end of the year.