Green light for next steps to a sustainable Highland wide EV network
With the Highlands rated among Scotland's 'top six' providers of electric vehicle charging points, Highland Council's climate change committee has approved the next move towards a partnership-based Highland wide EV infrastructure network.
The network will be achieved through a collaborative membership of local Scottish councils partnering with the private sector.
The report to Thursday’s meeting outlined progress taken to date and the next steps.
Members noted the report’s recommendations that there was a need to attract commercial investment to meeting the rapidly growing demand for EV charging as well as adapt to a changing funding landscape.
Approval was granted by members on progressing the project to Discovery Phase and a formal procurement procedure.
"The current EV public network model is placing budget pressure on the council," a spokesperson explained, "and a change in the financial model approach aims to mitigate this pressure. As the EV market develops, the council has an opportunity to generate a long-term revenue to sustain and grow the network."
The council believes development of EV infrastructure will reduce pressure on future budgets.
Funding has been made available for six “pathfinder projects” aimed at attracting private investment.
Climate change chair Karl Rosie, said: “The private sector is very keen to invest in any networks and see that there will be returns if a 15–25-year contract is awarded for the operation and maintenance of these.
“They are happy to take part funding to help de-risk, but some are willing to pay for 100% of the capital investment for the right number, location, and length of contract. Private sector funding will be crucial going forward.”
A discovery project team will take the plan forward.
A PIN (Prior Information Notice) would then progress the project to a formal procurement procedure.
"There is a need to move at pace to secure funding as well as develop a strong position on an evolving market."
Both the Scottish and UK Government have pledged to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.
Highland Council owns and operates over 85 charge points throughout the region, and there are additional projects in progress which will see a further 23 installed by Autumn 2023.
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Currently, the charging tariff does not cover the total amount of costs and grant funding is coming to an end.
The committee deferred considering options for a potential tariff increase.
Meanwhile, a new study has revealed that the Orkney Islands are the best area in Scotland to own an electric car.
The study by International Drivers Association analysed the number of electric car charging points on ZapMap and ONS data to establish which local authority in Scotland has the highest number of charging points per 100,000 population.
The data found that the Orkney Islands are the area in Scotland with the highest number of charging points per 100,000 people, at 178.6. This comes as a result of 40 total charging points in the area and a population of 22,400 and makes the Orkney Islands the most accessible area in Scotland to own an electric car:
Highland is rated sixth with 98.1.
A spokesperson for International Drivers Association commented: “Scotland's charging infrastructure still has a way to go despite the many benefits that electric vehicles have to offer. It will be fascinating to see, particularly as fuel costs continue to rise, how the electrical charging landscape continues to evolve over the coming years."
The worst area in Scotland to own and electric car was East Dunbartonshire, with just 23 charging points per 100,000 people.
