Plug-in plan for electric vehicles 11/2/13
Charging points for electric vehicles are to be installed at ferry terminals in the Western Isles as part of a scheme to reduce pollution from traffic.
The £2.6 million Scottish Government scheme also includes installing charging points at leisure facilities and local authority public carparks.
Proposals will see free installation of home charging points throughout Scotland and funding will be available for charge points at workplaces.
The scheme aims to encourage more people to drive electric cars by creating a network
of public charging points within at least every 50 miles on trunk roads and an integrated
network joining up electric vehicles with public transport.
Transport Minister Keith
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 with, 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.”
Over the past two years, the Scottish Government has invested over £8 million in electric vehicles and infrastructure, enabling Scotland's public services to purchase around 270 low carbon vehicles (LCVs).
Energy company SSE has been appointed official partner to manage the installation of domestic charging points for households across Scotland.