The first of 40 electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs being developed by ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) and the Scottish government has gone live.
As part of Project PACE, the sites will be installed across North and South Lanarkshire to be delivered by April next year.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson joined SPEN at the first site in Strathclyde Country Park just outside of Glasgow to open the site on Wednesday (5 August).
The project forms part of Transport Scotland’s ChargePlace Scotland network, which will see £5.3 million invested to deliver up to 180 new public EV charge points by next April. This equates to tripling the EV charging capacity across Lanarkshire.
Vicky Kelsall, chief operating officer at SPEN, said the project provides an “incredible acceleration of electric transport in Lanarkshire”.
“Our optioneering study identified over 40 community hubs where it will be most effective to install public electric vehicle chargers that offer universal access. The 6 new chargers in Strathclyde Country Park are just the start as we roll out 180 across North and South Lanarkshire.
“This project demonstrates an innovative delivery model that, if adopted more widely, could help accelerate the transition to net zero and support Scotland and the UKs green economic recovery.
“We’re also helping Lanarkshire communities establish low carbon infrastructure by providing £1.2m funding for electric minibuses, vans and people carriers for community transport providers – building electric fleets that allow them to play a part in improving the region’s air quality and supporting some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.”
SPEN began working with the Scottish government as part of the EV Strategic Partnership in August 2019. The Scottish government is investing £30 million in its ChargePlace Scotland network to prepared the country for the ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032.
Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson said: “I’m pleased to see the first charging hub delivered through Project PACE. The initiative demonstrates how collaboration and a joined-up approach will facilitate Scotland’s green recovery.
“This is part of our EV Strategic Partnership with Scotland’s electricity distribution network operator companies that is helping understand the vital role they can play in delivering more charging infrastructure in a cost efficient and effective way.”
In August 2019, the Scottish government threw its weight behind a £7.5 million project to ramp up EV charge point installs in the country, partnering with both SPEN and SSEN.
