Electric vehicle drivers in the Western Isles are being urged to take action ahead of a major change to the public charging network in early March.
ChargePlace Scotland will cease operations later this year, with ScottishPower appointed to operate council owned public chargers from 2nd to 6th of March, depending on location.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar chargers are expected to transfer between Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th of March, although dates remain subject to technical compatibility and weather disruption.
ScottishPower will take over mapping chargers, providing payment facilities, managing day to day operations, co ordinating maintenance and operating a 24 hour customer helpline.
Once a charger moves to the new network, existing ChargePlace Scotland RFID cards will no longer function on that unit.
During the transition period some chargers will remain on the old network while others move to ScottishPower, meaning drivers may need access to both systems.
Minimum charges on council owned chargers will be dropped and replaced with industry standard pre authorisation fees.
Drivers using the ScottishPower app or RFID card will see a £25 pre authorisation, while contactless bank card payments will trigger a £45 pre authorisation.
Those paying through roaming partner apps or RFID cards are advised to check their provider’s own pre authorisation fees.
Council specific overstay fees will remain unchanged.
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, which procured the new operator, previously issued guidance urging drivers in Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland to prepare for the change.
Drivers are advised to download the ScottishPower Recharge App, which allows users to locate chargers, start and stop sessions, make payments and access charging history.
Ordering a new RFID card is also recommended, either directly from ScottishPower or via roaming services such as Zapmap or Electroverse, allowing time for delivery.
Motorists are further advised to fully charge their vehicles before the switchover period to minimise disruption.
Chargers operated by CMAL at ferry terminals will not be affected by the transition.
Andy Mouat, Head of Smart Mobility at ScottishPower, said:
“We’re looking forward to delivering for EV users in the Highlands and Islands, supporting wider access to rapid charging and swift, easy-to-use services.”
The change marks a significant shift in how public charging is managed across island communities, and drivers are being encouraged to prepare early to avoid inconvenience.
