End of the road for free electric charges

Public car electric chargers won’t be free in the future as plans are unveiled to install more of them around South Ayrshire.

There are bids to put them into residential and town-centre streets and expand the numbers in car parks according to a new strategy.

Councillors approved South Ayrshire Council’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy at the Leadership Panel last Tuesday.

It is part of nationwide efforts to move away from fossil fuels to help tackle climate change.

Council leader Peter Henderson, SNP, said: “People seem to bury their head in the sand when it comes to climate change. If we don’t do something we won’t have a world left.”

The council along with other local authority areas around the country will see the introduction of fees for powering-up vehicles.

Councillor Henderon added: “The strategy has been agreed to get more electric chargers around the local area. There may be a small charge but that is not unusual. It has been free up to now.”

The strategy, which covers the period up to 2025, said a “fair tariff system” is to be introduced to “offset the growing costs of electricity, charger maintenance and future replacement.”

No date has been released for when the charging fees will be introduced.

There are 23 public chargers across the area in Ayr, Ballantrae, Coylton, Girvan, Maidens, Prestwick and Troon.

The council currently has 25 charge points for its electric vehicles with a target of 31 by 2025. Another goal is to include electric vehicle charging in new council builds and to work with developers to get them integrated into new housing estates. The council hopes to support transport firms and taxis to ditch petrol and diesel vehicles and switch to electric.