Electric Vehicles: Scotland’s most powerful hub opens in Dundee

EVA Scotland, which represents electric vehicle drivers, says the charging network presents a mixed picture depending where you are in Scotland.

They want councils to require operators to build in less popular areas as a condition of access to potentially busier locations.

Director Neil Swanson said: “The challenges are the rural networks where we are striving to make sure that people aren’t left behind. The incentive for the commercial operators to go into rural areas is limited and it’s really up to local authorities.”

Figures from Zapmap show that the majority of Scotland’s network – 52% – is still part of the publicly-funded ChargePlace Scotland network.

But its dominance has shrunk significantly in the last year, down from 63% in June 2023.

It says the bulk of the newly-installed high-powered network has come from the private sector.

Jade Edwards, head of insights at Zapmap, says Scotland has ranked third behind London and the south east for the number of charge points since 2018.

She added: “However, over the last year, Scotland has experienced the fastest growth in high-powered chargers of these three areas, making it easier for electric car drivers not only to travel longer distances, but to enjoy Scotland’s scenic routes and destinations with greater confidence and convenience.”

Sales of electric vehicles have slowed since the previous Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pushed back the date for ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.

During the general election campaign, Labour committed to reinstating the target.

Scotland’s transport secretary Fiona Hyslop says they are on target to install 6,000 chargers by 2026 and plan to have 24,000 charge points by 2030.

She said the private sector had invested between £40m and £55m in public EV charging in Scotland in 2024 adding “This can only happen, however, if the conditions exist to support this investment.”

The Scottish government says it will publish an implementation plan for the 2030 target by the end of this year.