Time to end free charging in Scotland?

Scottish Futures Trust maps out how to attract investment in infrastructure

Ending free or very low-cost pricing will attract the significant investment that is needed in Scotland’s public EV charging network over the next decade, according to new report from the Scottish Futures Trust. To ensure the long-term growth, sustainability and reliability of the public EV chargepoint network in Scotland, crucial private sector investment is needed to grow it at scale and pace according to a new report from public sector infrastructure body, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).

Following extensive engagement with the EV chargepoint market, the SFT report Public EV Charging in Scotland: Insight Report on Tariffs concludes that subsidised, or in some cases free charging applied by owners of chargepoints on the ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) network is deterring the crucial private sector investment needed to grow Scotland’s EV network over the next 5-10 years.

In the report, SFT recommends that local authority chargepoint owners:

• adopt a pricing regime that covers all costs and one which is broadly aligned with the market rate

• set out a timetable for the transition to market rate pricing and communicate with local EV drivers the benefits of enabling an expanded, accessible and reliable network

• explore the introduction of flexible and off-peak pricing structures to enable more affordable charging

• put processes in place to allow price regimes to respond to changing energy costs in a timely manner.

EV chargepoints on the CPS network were initially made free for users following Scottish Government grants made to local authorities and public bodies in the early 2010s. Since then, Scotland’s overall public chargepoint network has grown to over 3,000, with over 2,400 of these now on the CPS network. With the highest number of public charging points of any UK nation or region outside London (per head of population), Scotland’s network currently supports a membership of 63,000 drivers, which is growing by around 500 every week.

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth said: “I welcome this report from the Scottish Futures Trust which will help inform our finalised vision for Scotland’s public EV charging network. We made it clear in our draft vision statement that a shift towards

Ireland’s €100m EV charging infrastructure strategy

The Irish government is to spend €100m on public electric vehicle charging infrastructure over the next three years. The Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025 presents a pathway for delivery of a national EV charging network which will see a pool of highpowered chargers placed every 6 km on the motorway network.

There will also be a roll-out of home and apartment charging, residential neighbourhood charging (including new mobility hubs), destination charging and en-route charging.

An accompanying implementation plan sets out a road map for the delivery of Ireland’s EV charging infrastructure over the next three years, assuring car users of the feasibility of switching to an EV, and enabling Ireland to meet its national carbon reduction targets.

The €15m scheme from the Shared Island Fund will help sports clubs install electric vehicle chargepoints in local communities across the island of Ireland, so when people drop off kids or go to the club for their own use, they can charge their car at the same time. This will be just one form of destination charger. Others will be installed in locations such as retail centres or tourism spots, places where people may be driving to.

The strategy seeks to take a peoplefirst approach, focussing on seven user groups (or personas) illustrating different transport needs across different parts of the country both rural and urban, or in different housing types, for example. It then follows an individual’s journey from the planning stages to their return a public charging network largely financed and operated by the commercial sector is necessary to grow the network at pace and improve the customer experience overall.

“It’s vital that the public charging network has tariffs which are fair, sustainable and are set at a rate which enables the private sector to invest right across the country in the long term.

“Underpinned by our newly designed £60m Public EV Infrastructure Fund –aimed at attracting in private investment –Scotland is well positioned to build on the strong foundations we have, respond collectively to the global climate emergency and deliver on our commitment to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.”

Andrew Bruce who leads the EV work at the Scottish Futures Trust, said: “Free or low-cost electric vehicle charging on the public network was a fantastic initiative put in place to encourage more people to use electric cars. However, as more and more people invest in electric vehicles, we now need to take a longer-term view on EV charging to ensure we have well maintained infrastructure and deliver a comprehensive network of chargepoints that are ready to cope with mass adoption.

“We know that competing against reduced tariffs is causing private sector chargepoint owners to hesitate to invest in Scotland’s network, which will limit its growth. Continuing to offer access to the network for free, or at such low rates, is also having unintended consequences. Data shows it could be encouraging people who could charge their vehicles at home to travel to access the public network, potentially preventing those who rely on the network most from accessing it.” home, mirroring the needs of real people and groups. The strategy gives an insight into practical infrastructure adjustments that will make their EV driving experience easier.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “The EV strategy sets out a road map for creating an entirely new infrastructure across the country –one that people can have confidence in and one that will encourage more and more people to choose EVs.

“It’s happening already – EV sales are sky-rocketing – but the new infrastructure we are planning should take away concern or worry that people might have about access to charging points. In all of this, our local authorities will play a vital role. The key anchor for this strategy is the specialist ZEVI unit.

“Within this unit, we have the

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025 Department expertise, the knowledge, the guidance, the resources that local authorities will need to be able to make the best decisions on the procurement, leasing and location of EV chargers.”