£3 million boost for EV charging infrastructure in North-West Scotland

HITRANS has secured over £3 million to expand public EV charging across north-west Scotland, covering Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. The focus is on rural and island communities that have limited access to EV infrastructure.

The latest funding comes from the £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (EVIF), which aims to leverage private investment while directing public support to less commercially viable sites. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the project forms part of a national strategy to deliver 24,000 additional public charge points by 2030, with much of the expansion led 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,” said Hyslop. This includes rural and island communities like those 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.”

HITRANS Partnership Director Ranald Robertson explained that the multi-year funding will allow the regional network to grow sustainably, using local renewable energy where possible. The project is designed to be financially self-sustaining and to support a reliable and affordable transport system.

“Collaborating across the region to share our resources 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,” he said.

Councillor John Armour, Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, noted that the council has identified more than 80 potential new charging sites. With 37 chargers already in operation, the funding will enable prioritisation of sites, assessment of costs, and phased network expansion over the coming years.

According to the press release, the Scottish Government has invested over £65 million in public EV charging since 2011. The country now has one of the UK’s most extensive charging networks, with more than 7,000 publicly accessible points. The government reached its initial target of 6,000 points two years ahead of schedule, in October 2024.

hitrans.org.uk, transport.gov.scot