Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney has announced plans by the Scottish Government to expand the network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout Ayrshire and the Glasgow City Region, with a £6.3 million investment.
The Scottish Government has announced that this funding from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will lead to the creation of approximately 3,550 new public EV charging stations across the area.
Additionally, the minister expressed excitement over the news from ZapMap, a provider of charge point data, indicating that Scotland has already achieved its goal of installing over 6,000 public EV charging stations, two years ahead of the 2026 deadline.
Zapmap COO and co-founder, Melanie Shufflebotham, said: “Reaching the milestone of 6,000 public chargers across Scotland is a significant achievement, with the Scottish government showing great commitment to the EV sector with the forward-looking investment in the ChargePlace Scotland network over the last decade.
“This infrastructure not only supports Scottish EV drivers in their daily travels but also enables visitors to explore the stunning Scottish landscape with confidence on longer journeys.”
During a visit to South Ayrshire, Swinney and the transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, will tour an electric vehicle charging station where they will converse with representatives from EV infrastructure company IONITY, with the company committing an extra £20 million in investment by 2028 to offer green energy through its charging stations.
Swinney commented: “Today’s announcement is clear evidence of our commitment to making sustainable travel accessible for everyone in Scotland.
By fast-tracking EV infrastructure, we’re paving the way for a net-zero Scotland while advancing our goal to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. This is a key example of how the Scottish Government is focused on delivering on our key priorities and I am looking forward to hearing from people in Ayr about how we can continue to deliver for them.”
Since 2011, the Scottish Government has allocated over £65 million towards the development of public EV charging stations, with ZapMap confirming the presence of 6,007 public charging stations as of 31 October, a mix of public and private sector funding.
Having met the target of 6,000 public charging stations by 2026, Scotland now boasts more public charging stations per capita than any other region in the UK, aside from London.
With this milestone achieved, the government has announced its plans to establish an additional 24,000 public charging stations by 2030, with a goal of having the majority of these stations managed by the private sector.
Beyond public charging stations, the government has also contributed £5.7 million to facilitate the installation of 18,861 domestic charging stations and £10.8 million to support 1,432 higher-powered charging stations at workplaces, enhancing the existing public network.
