Dundee expected to back charging funding plans

The electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Dundee could receive a boost of up to £500,000 if councillors back the investment.

Grants from Transport Scotland and the Switched on Towns and Cities fund look set to provide new chargers at Greenmarket, Marchbanks Depot, Dawson Park and Logie Avenue. Electric commercial vehicle charger provision is planned for Greenmarket at a cost of  £103,208, while Dundee City Council’s Marchbanks HGV and Logie Avenue depots will have charging facilities installed at a combined cost of £340,000, with the final provision at Dawson Park for £17,500.

Almost 1,000 electric vehicles are registered for the Dundee City Council’s free parking for EVs scheme and the council fleet runs to more than 100 EVs - widely reported as the most of any UK local authority. There are also now 192 charging points.

In April two fully electric bin lorries will enter service, another Scottish first.

Mark Flynn, depute convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “This investment will keep Dundee at the forefront of the EV revolution and ensure that not only cars but also commercial vehicles will have the charging network needed to support them. The number and types of electric vehicles being bought and driven on our roads is only going to increase and we want to make sure that Dundee is in pole position to meet and drive demand.”

At the end of last year, the council agreed the purchase of two 26 tonne Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles, which will go into service in April, and a pair of fully electric minibuses.