Announced today by Transport Minister Keith Brown, the investment will be used to accelerate the scheme to install rapid chargers for electric vehicles up and down the country, as the purchase of a new fleet of EVs for car clubs.

In total, £2m will be used for electric vehicle rapid chargers and £1m for up to 30 electric vehicles for car clubs.

The move forms part of a £15m funding package that will also see a new cycling infrastructure introduced and a roll out of the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Programme introduced throughout Scotland over the next two years.

Mr Brown said: ‘The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to achieving the target of almost total decarbonisation of road transport by 2050 because of the numerous benefits.

‘We do recognise that giving up the car isn’t an option for everyone so we are not only investing in car clubs to help cut the number of cars on our roads, but ensuring that those cars are electric vehicles to help minimise emissions.’

This is in addition to the previously announced £5m being invested in a range of Low Carbon Vehicle projects, including grants to local authorities for charging points, and will also aid the continued installation of charging points at homes and workplaces.

Transport Scotland plan for the charging infrastructure investment to fund installation of up to 300 additional charging points, taking the total to around 1,200.
 
It will accelerate the delivery of a rapid charging infrastructure at 35 mile intervals (or less) on Scotland’s primary road network.

The announcement was welcomed by shared transport charity, Carplus.

Matthew Eastwood, car club development manager (Scotland) for Carplus, said: ‘We welcome the Scottish Government’s continued support of the development of car clubs in Scotland. This new resource will enable an increasing number of people to access electric vehicles – from Dumfries and Dunbar to Aberdeen and Forres, as well as in the two major cities.

‘Car clubs contribute to reducing the number of cars on Scotland’s roads. By increasing the number of zero emission vehicles, car club members are also helping to tackle air pollution.’