The Scottish Government have announced plans to install charging points throughout the Scottish road network in an attempt to cut vehicle emissions.
The scheme will see charging points installed at least every 50 miles on trunk roads and 100% funding to be given to householders to install home charging points. There will also be charging points at leisure centres, council car parks and ferry terminals; locations which will be listed on the Scottish Government's new ChargePlace Scotland website.
A total of £2.6m is being invested in the scheme, with £750,000 coming from Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government's transport agency, and the remainder coming from the UK Government's Plugged in Places initiative. The Scottish Government hopes the scheme will contribute to their aim of "decarbonisation" of road transport by 2050.
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."
However environmental campaigners have argued that there will have to be major improvements to public transport and increased investment in measures to encourage drivers to leave the car at home and walk or cycle instead.
Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Tavish Scott said, "Until more drivers can afford green cars then charging points will only be used by middle class people whose second car is an electric model. The Scottish Government should consider making a real change by making the national concessionary bus scheme conditional on the buses running on green power."
