Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Charging hubs to be installed to treble capacity
Electric vehicle charging hubs are to be installed at the Time Capsule, Drumpellier park and four Monklands car parks as part of a major scheme to treble capacity across Lanarkshire by April.
Project Pace has revealed the 40 locations across North and South Lanarkshire where up to 180 individual charging points are to be installed as part of the £5.3 million initiative.
Facilities will also be provided at King Street car park in Coatbridge, plus Drumgelloch station park and ride and the Hallcraig Street and Cairnhill Road car parks in Airdrie – as well as Chryston cultural centre in Muirhead and the Pivot centre in Moodiesburn.
The project is run by SP Energy Networks and the Scottish Government, working with North and South Lanarkshire councils “on site selection and specifications for these new charging hubs, which will be hosted by the authorities in car parks that they own”.
Organisers say: “Each community hub site has been chosen to help fill gaps in the current provision for future electric vehicle users and where commercial chargers are unlikely to be placed in the short to medium term.
“Locations will take into account existing electricity infrastructure location and capacity, available land and the need to provide public access.
“This will also support community transport organisations to make the switch and help ensure no community is left behind in the transition to fully electric vehicles.”
Project Pace’s website adds of the currently-proposed sites: “There may be changes to the locations listed below if unforeseen challenges are discovered.”
Contractors for the work have now been announced, with Swarco eVolt supplying and installing the electric vehicle chargers and Schneider Electric providing the electrical equipment needed to connect the chargers to the electricity network.
Scott Mathieson of SP Energy Networks said: “This project is a fantastic example of how we can work smartly together to help tackle the climate emergency efficiently and benefit both the environment and our customers in Lanarkshire.
“It will serve as a blueprint for other areas across the country in the shift to electric vehicles, ensuring every community has equal access to charging points connected into Scotland’s electricity networks.”
He added: “It’s great to be working with quality contractors on Project Pace, which will help Scotland drive towards its net-zero carbon emissions targets; decarbonisation of transport is critical to achieving these goals.”
Swarco eVolt general manager Justin Meyer said: “Project Pace’s concentrated programme in Lanarkshire will offer valuable insight into the positive effects that a robust network of charging hubs can have on electric vehicle ownership.”
Lanarkshire was chosen to pilot the green transport project as “the most populous area, ideally located in central Scotland” – ahead of the Scottish Government target to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles in 12 years’ time.
Environment convener Michael McPake, the Glenboig councillor, said: “This is an innovative, ambitious plan for Lanarkshire that will see a real increase in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“These plans are designed to pave the way for phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032 to become a reality.
“By making more charging points available, the switch to an electric vehicle becomes a viable option for more people; and the new network will contribute to reducing air pollution and providing access to clean energy for our residents.”