Councils across north agree £300m deal to install 570 EV charging ports
Electric Vehicle charging points in the North of Scotland will more than double in the next three years.
An extra 570 places to top up car batteries are to be installed as part of a £300m deal jointly funded but Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils.
EV infrastructure company EasyGo will develop the network while also adopting and maintaining the area's existing charging points as part of a 20-year contract. The company currently operates the largest EV network in Ireland, with over 4,500 charging stations across the Emerald Isle.
It's the first time several councils have come together to work on a deal of this kind, with Highland Council taking the lead in the project.
Councillor Ken Gowans, vice convener, said: 'By addressing the critical need for expanded charging infrastructure, we are removing significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, better serving our communities in both urban and rural areas and delivering a wide range of community benefits.
'Together, we are paving the way for a greener, more equitable and connected future across the Highlands and beyond.'
Of the funding, £7m comes from Transport Scotland's £30m Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which is aimed at helping councils to work with private companies to boost the number of charging stations across Scotland.
Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: 'Our £30m Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund has now been fully allocated to support this type of collaboration across the country and is expected to support the delivery of around 6,000 additional public charge points by 2030.
'In the north of Scotland, our investment has enabled an innovative procurement partnership across four local authorities, that is expected to leverage over £4.9m of additional matched private sector investment over the next three years to expand the availability, accessibility and reliability of public EV charging.
'As we transition away from ChargePlace Scotland, in line with our published vision for public charging infrastructure – this truly collaborative approach, supported through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, directly contributes to our ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
21 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
85% of Aberdeen traders rejected for LEZ retrofit scheme
However, of the 26 businesses who applied for aid, just four were approved. The figures come amidst rising anger over traffic regulations in the city. A legal challenge against the SNP-led council's bus gates is poised to be heard next month, after local residents and business owners raised more than £65,000 to fund the effort. The LEZ and bus gates have sparked anger in Aberdeen. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland Liam Kerr said the sums were evidence of the government's 'pitiful' stance towards businesses affected by the restrictions. In response, Transport Scotland said that the majority of applicants did not meet the necessary criteria for funding. Kerr said: 'Several businesses have already closed since the LEZs went live in Aberdeen, while others are on the brink of their livelihoods being decimated by this draconian scheme. 'Many are relocating their premises or simply avoiding these parts of Aberdeen because the SNP-Lib Dem council have demonised them from coming into our city centre. The Tory MSP added: 'Yet the woeful number of grants issued by the LEZ Retrofit Fund shows the Scottish Government has also shut the door on Aberdeen's business community. 'Rather than punishing motorists, the SNP government, with the council, should focus more on working constructively with businesses to help renew confidence and deliver economic growth.' Kerr submitted a written question in Holyrood to Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop on 21 May. He asked: 'How much of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund has been allocated to be used for businesses in Aberdeen's LEZ since its introduction, and how much of that allocation was distributed to businesses?' Hyslop responded: '26 applications for this funding have been received from businesses in the Aberdeen area. The majority of applications were rejected due to applicants not meeting the eligibility requirements. 'Four applicants were eligible and offered funding, however only two accepted these offers. The amount received by these businesses to support retrofitting of vehicles to meet LEZ standards was £14,066 in total.' Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop (Image: PA/Jane Barlow).Hyslop noted that 'over 98%' of vehicles that upgraded using the scheme were taxis, and most were based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. She added: 'Lower demand retrofit funding in Aberdeen may be attributed to a combination of local taxi licencing conditions and vehicle eligibility, combined with an LEZ exemption for taxis in the city.' According to Transport Scotland, there are a number of requirements which must be met in order for businesses to qualify for financial assistance. First, funds are only available for 'micro businesses and sole traders'. A 'micro-business' is defined as firms that report a turnover of less than £632,000 or a balance sheet of £316,000 or retain nine or fewer full-time employees. Furthermore, the applying business must not have received any other retrofit grants, must have been operational for at least 12 months, must not be registered to reclaim VAT, and must hold a UK business bank account. Glasgow's LEZ has been live since June 2023. (Image: Image taken by Newsquest staff) Several businesses in Aberdeen have blamed traffic regulations for the failure of their firms. Whisky bar CASC, located on the city's Stirling Street, shut in December 2024. Owners Bill and Paul West said at the time: 'The final nail in the coffin was the utterly ridiculous LEZs/bus gates, and the seemingly never-ending construction around the city turning the centre into a no-go zone for many.' The Herald previously reported how taxi drivers in Glasgow struggled to enhance their vehicles after one of the only firms equipped to carry out the necessary repairs suddenly went bust last summer. At the time, 225 taxis were on the road under a temporary exemption while retrofitting was being carried out. In January 2025, Labour MSP Pam Duncan Glancy raised the issue in Holyrood, telling Hyslop: 'Taxi drivers in Glasgow are keen to play their part in the transition to net zero, but at present they struggle to access some support to comply with the low-emission zone in the city.' Read more: Glasgow drivers racked up £1.7m in LEZ fines since 2023, figures show 'Hypocrisy': One third of Glasgow City Council vehicles don't comply with LEZ rules 'Kick in the teeth': Lost Glasgow LEZ court case costs campaigners £130,000 A recent Freedom of Information Request submitted by The Herald found that Glasgow's drivers have been fined around £1.7m since the LEZ scheme two years ago. Likewise, in Aberdeen, drivers have been fined more than £3m since June 2024. A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'Eligibility criteria for the LEZ Support Fund is set to ensure funding is available for those most in need of support to adapt to Low Emission Zones. 'The majority of rejected applicants in Aberdeen did not meet the microbusiness/sole trader criteria, were registered to reclaim VAT, or did not provide the required evidence for eligibility. Four applications were rejected as no retrofit solution was available for the selected vehicle. 'Additional factors such as the local licensing of taxis in cities like Aberdeen has meant there was less need for retro-fitting due to lower numbers of non LEZ compliant vehicles, in addition Aberdeen has granted exemptions for wheelchair accessible vehicles which will likely have further reduced grant applications'.
STV News
2 days ago
- STV News
Councils across north agree £300m deal to install 570 EV charging ports
Electric Vehicle charging points in the North of Scotland will more than double in the next three years. An extra 570 places to top up car batteries are to be installed as part of a £300m deal jointly funded but Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils. EV infrastructure company EasyGo will develop the network while also adopting and maintaining the area's existing charging points as part of a 20-year contract. The company currently operates the largest EV network in Ireland, with over 4,500 charging stations across the Emerald Isle. It's the first time several councils have come together to work on a deal of this kind, with Highland Council taking the lead in the project. Councillor Ken Gowans, vice convener, said: 'By addressing the critical need for expanded charging infrastructure, we are removing significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, better serving our communities in both urban and rural areas and delivering a wide range of community benefits. 'Together, we are paving the way for a greener, more equitable and connected future across the Highlands and beyond.' Of the funding, £7m comes from Transport Scotland's £30m Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which is aimed at helping councils to work with private companies to boost the number of charging stations across Scotland. Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: 'Our £30m Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund has now been fully allocated to support this type of collaboration across the country and is expected to support the delivery of around 6,000 additional public charge points by 2030. 'In the north of Scotland, our investment has enabled an innovative procurement partnership across four local authorities, that is expected to leverage over £4.9m of additional matched private sector investment over the next three years to expand the availability, accessibility and reliability of public EV charging. 'As we transition away from ChargePlace Scotland, in line with our published vision for public charging infrastructure – this truly collaborative approach, supported through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, directly contributes to our ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Courier
3 days ago
- The Courier
Dunkeld roundabout and new junctions in A9 dualling plans going on public display
A new roundabout at Dunkeld and grade-separated junctions at Birnam and Dalguise feature in the next batch of A9 dualling plans. The proposals will go on display to the public next month. The plans also include a new car park for Dunkeld and Birnam station and an underpass under the A9 and the railway. They form part of the 8.4km Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9. Transport Scotland published its draft orders, including compulsory purchase orders, for the project today. The move signals the start of an eight-week consultation. Public exhibitions will be held on June 11 and 12 at Birnam Arts Centre. An online exhibition, which includes information on the plans for the route, has gone live today. Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said elements, such as the roundabout at Dunkeld and junction layouts at the Hermitage and Dalguise, had been developed out of previous discussions with the community. And she urged anyone with an interest in A9 dualling to take part in the next phase of consultation. 'Whilst the magnitude and complexities of this work are considerable, there will be no let up on progressing the dualling programme,' she said. The pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is scheduled to be finished by 2032. The new target date for the completion of A9 dualling in its entirety is the end of 2035. That's 10 years later than the Scottish Government's initial goal. And just two sections of single carriageway, totalling about 18km, have been upgraded over the past decade. Another 124km have still to be improved as part of the £3bn project, which will extend from Inverness to Perth. Speaking in January, Ms Hyslop said she also expected to see the contract awarded for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section and the start of procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie phase 'in the next few months'.
