Cash pot will help power up eco drive
Funding to pay for more electric car charging points
Renfrewshire’s electric car users will soon benefit from a funding cashpot to create more charging points.
The local authority and neighbouring East Renfrewshire are included in 11 council areas from across Scotland that have been picked for the second round of the Switched on Towns and Cities feasibility study programme, which will run across this year and next.
Funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, the programme supports the Scottish Government’s ambitions to create 20 electric towns and cities by 2025.
Now in its second year, the aim of the programme is to look at how councils will develop strategies to help with the transition to a low carbon economy.
Each local study will provide a report that includes detailed insights and information on a range of topics. These will include plug- in vehicle forecasts and recommendations for publicly accessible charge points, designed for varied user groups.
The studies will also look at how to encourage people to take up low carbon transport options.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “We’re looking forward to taking part in the Switched On Towns and Cities feasibility study as we continue to support the move to electric vehicles in Renfrewshire.
“Currently, we have 88 electric vehicles, which is 20 per cent of the council fleet, and the total number will increase to 100 early next year as we aim to reduce our carbon emissions.
“We’re also working closely with Transport Scotland to install charging facilities across all of Renfrewshire to make it as easy as possible for residents to switch to electric vehicles.
“The learning from this study will help support our long- term strategy for electric vehicles and charging points in Renfrewshire.”
Ellie Grebenik, senior programme manager for Scottish Transport at Energy
Saving Trust, said: “We are pleased once again to be working closely with local authorities from across Scotland.
“It is heartening to see the range of applicants include island, rural and urban communities, each facing different challenges.
“We hope that the programme will help these local authorities develop bespoke plans with innovative solutions.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, said the funding was an “important step” in the government’s plans.
He added: “The feasibility studies will inform and help facilitate intensified actions to increase the uptake of plug-in electric vehicles in Scotland’s towns and cities.
“In partnership with Energy Saving Trust, the fund is an important part of our overall package of support for local authorities, business and individuals to make the switch – and it directly supports our objective of phasing out the need for new petrol or diesel cars and vans by 2032.”