£3.4m EV infrastructure plan being considered in Edinburgh

Edinburgh City Council will consider a £3.4 million plan to introduce a 'strategic, citywide network of electric vehicle charging points.'

2nd October 2018 by Networks

£3.4m EV infrastructure plan being considered in Edinburgh

The local authority said it is the first city in the UK to put forward such an ‘ambitious and comprehensive’ electric vehicle infrastructure business case, amid the growing popularity of electric cars among city residents.

The City of Edinburgh Council and Transport Scotland commissioned the Energy Savings Trust (EST) to prepare the business case, which will go before the Transport and Environment Committee (external link) on 4 October 2018.

Electric vehicle uptake is rising rapidly across the UK and Edinburgh has more than 23% of all licensed electric vehicles in Scotland.

In the business case, the EST proposes that by 2023, the capital will need to install 211 new charging points at a cost of £3.4m. [NB the city is predicted to have nearly 10,000 residential and commercial electric vehicles by 2023, however it is assumed that many of these users will have access to driveways and garages for home charging and will not need access to public infrastructure.]

The majority of these charging points will be “fast chargers” for on-street residential charging, although there will also be some charging facilities for taxis and at park and ride sites.

Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Edinburgh is in the vanguard of a nationwide drive to improve electric vehicle infrastructure and this business case will help us make great strides towards a greener, healthier capital.

“Electric vehicles are only part of the solution to worsening air quality, however, alongside the other key elements of our wider sustainable transport agenda for the Capital such as promoting use of public transport and active travel like walking and cycling.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: “I welcome the City of Edinburgh Council’s innovative plans to intensify the availability of electric vehicle charge points across our capital.

“The number of ultra-low emission cars newly registered in Scotland has increased by 64% over the past year compared to 38% in the same period in the rest of the UK.

“This is a positive step which responds to the uptake in electric vehicles and supports our commitment to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032.”

A total of 68 locations hosting multiple charging points have been identified across the capital.

The council has applied to Transport Scotland’s Switched On Towns and Cities fund for £2m towards upgrading electric vehicle infrastructure in Edinburgh.