Half a million pounds worth of funding has been secured by Fife Council to expand the region’s growing network of electric vehicle charging points.
22 new outlets are expected to be installed throughout the kingdom thanks to Transport Scotland’s grant.
The new points will generally be located in public car parks and where there is an affordable Scottish Power connection.
The Courier understands the shortlist of exact locations will be drawn up in the coming months, pending investigation by Fife Council officials, and all off-street parking areas in towns where chargers are to be located are being considered.
However, with many towns home to conservation areas, it could be some time before the charging point list is finalised.
News of the electric vehicle charging points has been hailed by Liberal Democrat North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie.
He said: “This is welcome, and needed, funding for Fife Council to expand the electric vehicle charging network across Fife.
“There is a climate emergency, transport emissions are still on the rise and road transport remains the largest single issue.
“So it’s great to see funding going towards installing the necessary charging points to support communities in shifting to eco-friendly vehicle fleets.
“I look forward to hearing further details on the locations of each charging point and hope this will ease the shift to eco-friendly vehicles.”
A network of public chargers is said to be best suited for longer journeys, with a rapid charging unit providing up to 80% of charge in as little as 20 to 30 minutes.
Both Dunfermline and St Andrews have been earmarked for three new units, with money for two 22kW units and one more powerful 50kW unit in each town.
Four more will be situated in the East Neuk, namely in Elie, Pittenweem, St Monans and Ceres, with a further four in the Tay Bridgehead, namely in Balmullo, Gauldry, Newport-on-Tay and one specifically pencilled in for the Waterstone Crook car park in Newport-on-Tay.
Newburgh and Ladybank should get one each, while there will be one to cover Saline/Oakley and one to cover Charlestown/Limekilns, and Dalgety Bay is also in line for one.
Kirkcaldy will get one at the Dysart Shore car park and Kinghorn will have one, while the final one will be installed at Lochore Meadows Country Park.
Meanwhile, thanks to funding through the 2018/19 ChargePlace Scotland grant, a 22kW charger is to be installed in the car parking area between Inn Street and Tay Street in Tayport, while discussions are also ongoing about locating a further point in the Marketgate South car park in the centre of Crail.
