Multi-million-pound EV charging infrastructure partnership announced

Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils are today (Fri, May 30) announcing that EasyGo has been awarded a 20-year contract to provide EV charging infrastructure for the north of Scotland. 

The contract is estimated to be worth £300 million, with Highland Council acting as the lead authority. 

The large-scale EV infrastructure project will accelerate the region’s transition to Net Zero and see 570 new charging points installed across the north of Scotland by 2028, more than doubling the existing EV infrastructure and further enhancing the region’s charging network.

EasyGo will also adopt and maintain all existing council-owned public charging points in the region.

Transport Scotland has committed more than £7 million of funding to enable the partnership as part of the Scottish Government’s £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. The fund was launched in 2022 and enables local authorities to work with the private sector to deliver a high-quality public EV charging network across all of Scotland.

The north of Scotland partnership is the first inter-council contract to have been awarded and is the largest grant award in Scotland since the fund’s inception.

Councillor Ken Gowans, Vice Convener of The Highland Council said: “We are honoured to lead this groundbreaking initiative in the north of Scotland which sets a new standard for regional cooperation. This project exemplifies the power of collaboration as we work closely with our neighbouring local authorities to create a comprehensive and accessible EV charging network.

"By addressing the critical need for expanded charging infrastructure, we are removing significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, better serving our communities in both urban and rural areas and delivering a wide range of community benefits. Together, we are paving the way for a greener, more equitable and connected future across the Highlands and beyond.”

 

 

Councillor Gillian Owen, Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “This is a hugely aspirational programme for all our regions, and I very much welcome the future development of additional electric vehicle charging infrastructure to help future-proof our network. As a large rural authority, we acknowledge that more needs to be done to improve and extend the existing infrastructure to cater for under-served areas across Aberdeenshire and to ensure far greater reliability of services for motorists. Through this ambitious partnership approach, I am confident it will encourage a major increase in EV usage and help promote equality within both rural and urban areas.”

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “This is a huge boost to the electric vehicle charging network in Aberdeen. The new enlarged infrastructure means more places to charge electric vehicles which fits in with Aberdeen City Council’s plans for net zero and with the aim of improving air quality. Hopefully there will be increased use of the charging stations.  We will continue to promote greener technologies because everyone benefits from a cleaner environment. Looking to the future, we want to ensure Aberdeen's place as energy capital of Europe.”

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “The investment in the city’s electric vehicle network is part of our Net Zero Vision and Strategic Infrastructure Plan for Energy Transition. The new infrastructure will help cement our position as a world leader in the energy sector as an economic driver for the city, region, Scotland and the UK.”

Councillor Kathleen Robertson, Leader of Moray Council, said: “This initiative highlights perfectly how collaborative efforts across the north of Scotland can deliver for all of our communities. We’re not only expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Moray but working with our neighbours to open up economic growth and development opportunities across our region. By playing our own part in the drive to net zero we’re helping Scotland make the journey that really matters. As an electric car driver myself I know how welcome this investment will be for locals and visitors and am proud we’re delivering a climate positive network for the ages.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased that over £7 million from the Scottish Government is transforming public electric vehicle infrastructure across the north of Scotland. Our £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund has now been fully allocated to support this type of collaboration across the country and is expected to support the delivery of around 6,000 additional public charge points by 2030.

“In the north of Scotland, our investment has enabled an innovative procurement partnership across four local authorities, that is expected to leverage over £4.9 million of additional matched private sector investment over the next three years to expand the availability, accessibility and reliability of public EV charging.

“As we transition away from ChargePlace Scotland, in line with our published vision for public charging infrastructure – this truly collaborative approach, supported through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, directly contributes to our ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.”

Existing live public EV charging units across the North of Scotland

The number of charges below are a snapshot in time. The numbers of existing live chargers do not include those which are in process of being installed or are installed but not yet made fully live.

	Aberdeen City Council	Aberdeenshire Council	Highland Council	Moray Council	Total
7 kW Fast	41	15	18	2	76
22 kW Fast	20	51	31	18	120
50 kW Rapid	22	14	69	10	115
Total	83	80	118	30	311

 

Total public EVCI across the North of Scotland in December 2027

	Aberdeen City Council	Aberdeenshire Council	Highland Council	Moray Council	Total
7kW AC Fast	211	15	111	71	408
11kW AC Fast	0	46	3	1	50
22kW AC Fast	24	75	39	28	166
50kW DC Rapid	25	31	74	14	144
>50kW DC Rapid	13	29	44	27	113
Total	273	196	271	141	881