Two hundred charging points for electric cars are to be installed across Scotland as part of a £2.6 million scheme that could help provide a “revolution on our roads”.
Transport Minister Keith Brown hailed the project, which will see power points for drivers to charge electric vehicles (EVs) installed at homes, workplaces, leisure centres, public car parks and ferry terminals.
It will mean there will be public charging points at least every 50 miles on trunk roads.
In addition, there will be a network of chargers in place in time to be used by officials and visitors to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer.
The locations of all the charging points will be listed on a new Scottish Government ChargePlace Scotland website which will also highlight the benefits of using electric vehicles.
A total of £750,000 of the funding is coming from Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government’s transport agency, with the remainder from the UK Government’s Plugged in Places initiative.
Mr Brown said: “Scotland has long been at the forefront of world-changing innovation, be it penicillin or television, and I want to ensure we are leading where the rest of the world will soon follow on electric vehicles.
“This funding looks to the future a low-carbon future to an electric revolution on our roads where people can charge their carbon-neutral cars at home, drive them to their local station and jump on an electric train to their workplace, which will also have charging points for the days they need to take the car to work.
“Or tourists can decide to take an EV driving tour around Scotland, safe in the knowledge they are never too far from a charger. And can hop on a ferry knowing they can charge up at the other end if needed.”
Mr Brown said drivers could travel from Edinburgh to Glasgow on a single charge for about £1.50 in electric cars.
For a special feature on the future of motoring, see Thursday’s Courier or try our new digital edition.