Plan to add 24,000 public electric vehicle charge points by 2030 published
The Scottish Government has published its Draft Implementation Plan outlining how it will support the delivery of approximately 24,000 additional public electric vehicle (EV) charge points by 2030.
The draft plan sets out 15 actions to achieve the growth necessary in the public charging infrastructure in Scotland and deliver Scotland’s Vision for public EV charging.
Delivering approximately 24,000 additional public EV charge points by 2030 will require leadership and collective action from a range of organisations that share responsibility for delivering public EV charging, including businesses investing in EV charging, energy network operators and Government. In doing so, we will ensure greater range confidence, supporting the Scottish Government commitment to phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.
Extensive engagement was undertaken to help develop the draft plan. Transport Scotland is now formally consulting before the final Vision Implementation Plan is published later in 2025.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“I’m pleased to be publishing today the Draft Implementation Plan which sets out how we will support the delivery of approximately 24,000 additional public electric vehicle charging points by 2030. Transport remains the largest cause of greenhouse gas emissions and EVs enable drivers to take climate action and cutting harmful emissions. We need to ensure that people from all parts of Scotland can benefit from this switch to EVs, so that no one and no part of the country is left behind.”
“In October 2024, Scotland met its target for 6,000 public EV charge points two years ahead of the 2026 deadline. That target was achieved through a combination of public funding and increasing private sector investment. We now need to go faster and further to achieve our ambitions. Public money cannot and should not support this infrastructure alone.
“We have already seen significant growth in the level of private sector investment in the public charging infrastructure essential to support the transition to EVs. This draft plan outlines how the private sector will take on a leading role, it sets out the actions necessary for us to realise the ambition of our Vision, which is to give Scotland a well-designed, accessible, comprehensive, and convenient public charging network that works for everyone. Our consultation is now open – and I would encourage anyone with an interest in electric vehicles and public charging to have their say and to help inform our finalised implementation plan which we will publish next year."
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said:
“ChargeUK is committed to making EV charging as convenient and affordable as possible. That’s why our members are putting charge points in the ground at a record pace, with a new one being installed every 25 minutes.
“The Transport for Scotland implementation plan acknowledges that for the rollout to go further and faster, we need the support of DNOs and local authorities and we are looking forward to working with the Scottish Government to deliver this.
“Investment in charge points is driven by the private sector, with ChargeUK members committing to invest £6 billion by 2030.
“To encourage and support more investment into public charge points, coordination between CPOs, DNOs and all forms of government is vital .”
BACKGROUND
Since 2011, the Scottish Government has invested over £65 million in public EV charging. Charge point data provider ZapMap has confirmed Scotland had 6,007 public charge points as of 31 October, delivered through a combination of public and increasing private sector investment.
As a direct result, official UK Department of Transport figures show that, on a per head of population basis, Scotland has more public EV charge points than any other part of the UK, except London and more rapid public EV charge points than any other part of the UK.
Scotland’s Vision for public EV charging was published in June 2023 and sets out the ambition to see a comprehensive, convenient and efficient network. The Scottish Government has announced a commitment to enabling approximately 24,000 additional public charge points by 2030, and expects the majority of these to be delivered by the private sector.
The Scottish Government is continuing to support the expansion of public EV charging through its £30 million EV Infrastructure Fund which supports Local Authorities to partner with the private sector to continue to expand public EV charging infrastructure. Public charge points are only one part of the overall charging mix. The Scottish Government has also provided £5.7 million to support the installation of 18,861 domestic charge points and £10.8 million to support 1,432 higher powered workplace charge points – all complementing the public network.
It is estimated that there are currently over 80,000 EV on Scotland’s roads and data by the UK Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders indicates that the UK is seeing record growth in EV adoption with every fourth car sold in the UK in November being an EV.
Scottish Futures Trust estimates that the private sector invested approximately £25 million to £35 million in expanding public EV charging infrastructure in Scotland in 2023 and is expected to have invested between £40 million and £55 million in expanding public EV charging infrastructure in Scotland in 2024. Private sector plans for investing in Scotland do not end in 2024, and whilst plans for investment in future years remain commercially confidential, consultation suggests significant levels of investment is planned for future years.
According to ZapMap Scotland experienced 49% growth in public EV charging between June 2023 (4,023 public charge points) and October 2024 (6,007 public charge points). This rapid growth was largely driven by private sector investment. However, delivering approximately 24,000 additional public charge points by 2030 will necessitate an 8-fold increase in the level of private sector investment over the next five years.
Consultation with public charge point operators and analysis by industry body ChargeUK suggests charge point operators are already working to exceed current growth rates, driven by the commercial imperatives of securing market share and attracting customers. It suggests its members plan to invest £6 billion in in growing public EV charging infrastructure across the UK ahead of demand driven by the transition to EVs, supported by the actions identified in this Draft Implementation Plan.
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