EV drivers welcome Scottish charge point boost

dailyrecord.co.uk:

LEADERS of the Scottish electric vehicle community have welcomed official plans to boost the charging infrastructure.Holyrood Transport Secretary Michael Matheson unveiled a new Government/private sector public charging network fund on Wednesday.It is hoped the initiative will give councils up to £60million over four years, providing the potential to double the size of the Scottish system.Electric Vehicle Association Scotland director Neil Swanson said: “We warmly welcome the plans that put everyone front and centre of a public electric vehicle charging network that’s fit for the future.“The network needs to continue to grow in a way that ensures no part of Scotland is left behind and we will continue to engage with Government on how this vision can best be realised for the benefit of EV drivers nationwide.”The Government move comes after EVA Scotland carried out a major survey into what its members and potential owners viewed as important factors on the electrification journey.Respondents said manufacturers must reduce the cost of buying electric vehicles to accelerate the switch away from fossil fuels.

And the country’s charge point infrastructure needs to increase swiftly, they stressed.Mr Swanson said: “Our members want to see a rapid development and sustainable growth of Scotland’s EV charging infrastructure, which EVA Scotland supports, and we are calling on national and local government and the charge point supply industry to respond.”The 2021-22 review of EVA Scotland members found that 83 per cent said purchase costs were a major factor in choosing an electric vehicle, with 50 per cent wanting to see new EV prices reduced.The study also revealed that 43 per cent of members want to see a quick expansion of the