The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Infrastructure funding for electric cars just a ‘postcode lottery’: MSP
DISPARITY: Scots Tories take SNP government to task
The Scottish Conservatives claim there is a “postcode lottery” in funding for electric vehicles in Scotland.
Environment spokesman Maurice Golden MSP has accused the Scottish Government of allowing a disparity between the funding for charging points in separate local authority areas.
Transport Scotland, the body responsible for overseeing the country’s roads and transport infrastructure, said Mr Golden had a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the investments being made in electric charging infrastructure.
The shadow environment secretary pointed to a freedom of information request into electric charging infrastructure which showed, he said, “wildly variable” levels of funding for charging ports and other green infrastructure between councils.
Angus Council has received £951,000 through the local authority installation programme since 2010 and has 34 charging points.
Dundee has received £1,461,000 in the same period, installing 73.
More than £1,580,000 has been allocated in Fife, which has built 62 charging points and Perth and Kinross has been granted more than £1,589,000 and has 34.
In other parts of Scotland, including South Ayrshire, half as much has been awarded.
“The SNP simply will not meet their own target of phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2032.
MSP MAURICE GOLDEN
Mr Golden said this is reflected in the “lack” of chargers in the region, which currently has 13. This meant it cost South Ayrshire Council £71,231 to install each unit, compared with £20,000 in Dundee.
He added: “These wildly variable figures highlight the stark postcode lottery of electric car charging infrastructure in Scotland.
“The SNP simply will not meet their own target of phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2032 if they cannot guarantee a comprehensive charging network.
“Transport emissions have not reduced at all since 1990 so it is vitally important that this transition is successful.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “This statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the investments being made in charging infrastructure.
“We are proud Scotland now benefits from more than 1,000 public charge points on the Charge Place Scotland network, including more than 200 50 kilowatt rapid chargers.
“Using the financial support made available by the Scottish Government and a funding formula agreed with Cosla, local authorities are responsible for assessing and installing chargers that meet the needs of their community – reflecting a blend of more expensive rapid chargers. Other factors that influence the cost of installing chargers include the cost of civil works or variations in grid connection costs.
“In addition to supporting a world class network of public charge points, since 2013 the Scottish Government has provided funding for almost 4,000 EV charge points at people’s homes and more than 600 at workplaces.”