The Scottish Government has published its draft vision for the public electric vehicle charging network, which includes a £60m fund for increasing the number of charge points.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said the draft vision provides a clear picture of what electric vehicle charging networks must deliver for drivers across Scotland

The new funding builds on existing provision and will provide up to £60m to local authorities over the next four years, of which around half of is expected to come from the private sector.

The Government said the funding has the potential to double the size of the public charging network in Scotland, bringing it to some 4,200 charge points.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “We have invested over £50m to create a network with over 2,100 public charge points across Scotland. With demand for electric vehicles rapidly increasing thanks to government incentives and support, public and private sector partnerships will now be key in attracting investment and scaling provision at pace. The £60m Public Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will draw in and smooth commercial investment so that the future charging network works for everyone, while at the same time potentially doubling the size of our public network here in Scotland.”

Alongside more chargers, the draft vision document seeks to deliver “chargers in the right places”, with a seamless network that covers rural areas too.

Matheson continued: “Our draft vision provides a clear picture of what electric vehicle charging networks must deliver for drivers across Scotland, and our priorities for achieving those changes. We need a just transition, where accessibility, availability and reliability is key and where no one is left behind from the positive shift to zero emission transport system – including rural and island communities.”

The plans will also see the Scottish Government start working with design specialists at V&A Dundee, ensuring the charging network meets diverse needs and interests.

Introducing the draft vision, Matheson also explained how it relates to wider policies, including the commitment to reduce car kilometres travelled by 20% by 2030.

To speed up new strategies and help better identify charge point requirements across Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary also announced £350,000 to support six pathfinder projects across Scotland.

The pathfinder awards support local authorities to identify where public electric vehicle infrastructure could be scaled rapidly and in a way which attracts sustainable private sector investment. Local authorities receiving this funding include Aberdeen City Council and North Ayrshire Council, both of which get £75k, while City of Edinburgh Council, Dundee City, Falkirk and Glasgow City Region all get £50k each.

Tanya Sinclair, policy director UK & Ireland at ChargePoint, welcomed the funding commitment from the Scottish Government and said it provided a good blueprint for the devolved nations to follow.

“The investment goes further than just a cash boost and is specifically designed to attract private investment in EV charging, which is what makes this investment really positive for the EV charging sector. In contrast, funds in England are channelled to local authorities who are resource-constrained and shouldn’t be expected to provide EV charging on top of the essential services we rely on them for.

“To increase the overall adoption of EVs in the UK, we would encourage the other devolved nations to follow Scotland’s lead to help increase the amount of chargers . The Government has earmarked money to solve the issue of rural charging infrastructure but it has not yet been spent. Along with this funding, the UK government must also drive the installation of charging stations, as it is vital that chargers are easily accessible throughout the country, not just big cities.

“As well as increased investment in on-street electric car charging, the Government must also focus on helping key charging locations such as workplaces electrify in a cost effective manner. This needs to be done quickly but correctly – it’s not just about needing a large concentration of charging stations but the speed, location, ease of use and incentives need to be carefully considered.”