North of Scotland to Gain Major Boost in Electric Vehicle Charging Network

The north of Scotland is set to benefit from a £300 million investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils have announced a landmark 20-year partnership with EasyGo, one of the leading providers of EV charging solutions.

Highland Council is leading the project, which will see 570 new charge points installed across the region by 2028.

This will more than double the current network and make electric vehicle use far more practical and attractive in both urban and rural areas.

In addition to the new points, EasyGo will also take over the maintenance of all existing council-owned public chargers, bringing consistency and reliability to the network.

The project is supported by over £7 million in funding from Transport Scotland, as part of the Scottish Government’s £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund.

Launched in 2022, the fund supports partnerships between local authorities and the private sector to deliver high-quality public charging networks across Scotland.

This is the first joint council partnership of its kind in Scotland and represents the largest award made to date through the fund.

Councillor Ken Gowans, Vice Convener of Highland Council, said the project is a shining example of collaboration between neighbouring authorities.

He said:

“We are proud to lead this initiative, which will remove key barriers to electric vehicle adoption and create a greener, more connected future for our communities.”

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill welcomed the move as a major step forward in the city’s Net Zero ambitions.

“This significant boost to the network will encourage greater use of electric vehicles, which supports our plans for cleaner air and a healthier environment,” he said.

Councillor Christian Allard, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council, said the investment will help reinforce Aberdeen’s role as a leader in the energy sector.

Aberdeenshire Council Leader, Councillor Gillian Owen, highlighted the importance of extending services to rural communities.

She said:

“Our region covers a large rural area, and this investment will help ensure that everyone, wherever they live, can access reliable charging.”

Moray Council Leader, Councillor Kathleen Robertson, also welcomed the partnership.

She said:

“As an electric car driver myself, I know how much this will be welcomed by locals and visitors alike.

“We are building a climate-positive network that will serve future generations.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop praised the project’s innovative approach and confirmed that the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund is expected to support the delivery of around 6,000 additional public chargers across Scotland by 2030.

She said the north of Scotland partnership is already setting the pace for this national effort.

EasyGo CEO Ollie Chatten said the company is proud to bring its expertise to Scotland.

He said:

“We are excited to support these forward-thinking councils in building a reliable and efficient charging network that will power Scotland’s journey to Net Zero.”

By the end of 2027, the number of public chargers across the four council areas is expected to grow from just over 300 today to nearly 900.

This ambitious partnership marks a major milestone in Scotland’s drive towards a greener, cleaner transport future.

Existing live public EV charging units across the North of Scotland

The number of charges below are a snapshot in time.

The numbers of existing live chargers do not include those which are in process of being installed or are installed but not yet made fully live.

Total public EVCI across the North of Scotland in December 2027