£3 million for charging infrastructure in north-west Scotland

The north-west Scotland EV Infrastructure Fund project has awarded more than £3 million to a group of local authorities to help them collaborate with the private sector and expand public electric vehicle charging provision.

Led by HITRANS, the north-west Scotland EV Infrastructure Fund project involves Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eileen Siar (Western Isles) councils.

This follows the Scottish government’s continued investment in EV infrastructure: since 2011, it has provided more than £65 million in public EV charging. As a result, Scotland has one of the most comprehensive charging networks in the UK, with over 7,000 public chargepoints. Two years ahead of schedule in 2024, Scotland met its target for 6,000 chargepoints.

The Scottish government is committed to continuing to grow this network and leveraging private investment. The government’s EV Infrastructure Fund is to target public funding at less commercially viable sites, particularly for rural and island communities, ensuring that all of Scotland has access to the public EV charging network it needs.

Cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “I’m delighted to announce the latest award from our £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, to encourage greater private sector investment in the EV charging network.

“The Scottish government has set out a route map to deliver on our vision for public EV charging infrastructure in Scotland and ambition to create 24,000 additional public chargepoints by 2030, largely funded and delivered by the private sector.

“In addition to the public funding from EVIF, we anticipate the private sector investing at least an additional £30 million of its own capital, meaning public funding should be prioritised for those areas of Scotland less likely to benefit from stand-alone private sector investment in public EV charging infrastructure.

“This includes rural and island communities like this which will be served by this north-west Scotland project led by HITRANS. I look forward to hearing how the EVIF project helps EV drivers across this region, and all of Scotland, over the coming months and years.”

Ranald Robertson, HITRANS partnership director said: “HITRANS and partner councils are delighted to secure this multi-year funding for the expansion of the electric vehicle charging network across Argyll and Bute and the Northern and Western Isles.

“Collaborating across the region to share our resource and challenges has highlighted some unique opportunities that we are keen to explore in parallel, such as the abundant renewable energy generation in the area.

“Our aim is to grow a substantial charging network that is financially self-sustainably and locally powered as much as possible. This investment will help support a just transition to a more environmentally sustainable, reliable and affordable transport network."