Fees shock for electric car drivers

ELECTRIC car users have been left furious after tariffs were introduced ‘overnight’ at Scotland’s largest charging point centre.

Falkirk Council introduced the fees across its network last month and admitted the costs had not been publicised at the launch of the facility in August last year.

As of April 19, motorists are charged 25p per kilowatt-hour to power their vehicles, with a minimum spend of £1.

The council owns more than 30 charging points on the ChargePlace Scotland network, the largest number being at Falkirk Stadium. But residents say they were not forewarned of the tariffs, which were agreed in the council’s budget for this year.

Morag Cochrane, 56, said: ‘I was so proud of Falkirk for being at the forefront of this technology and encouraging us all to commit to a greener future – but there was no mention of charges.’

Mrs Cochrane only found out about the tariffs when she turned up at Falkirk Stadium to power her £22,000 electric vehicle.

She added: ‘I had no information it was happening, nothing to say charges were being imposed. Then under the cover of darkness they slapped these stickers on.’ Falkirk Council said notice of the charges was not publicised at the facility’s launch because the introduction of the fees was delayed by the pandemic.

A Falkirk Council spokesman said: ‘Providing free charging points for electric cars cost the council approximately £80,000 in 2020-21 and a charge was introduced.

‘In addition to signage on all charge points and social media posts, ChargePlace Scotland also emailed all locally registered users to inform them of the tariff introduction.’

Mrs Cochrane said she did not receive any email notification.