A new Scottish £7.5m public and private sector partnership is aiming to deliver more electric vehicle charging points and supporting infrastructure across the country.

The partnership includes Scottish government funding of £5m via Transport Scotland, and at least an additional £2.5m from SP Energy Networks and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). It will deliver trial projects to take place in 2020-21.

SSEN will examine what electricity network infrastructure will be required to support the increasing number of people travelling to the north of Scotland by electric vehicles. Infrastructure needs for new charging points along the route of the Electric A9 will be also be identified and mapped.

And, in central and southern Scotland, SP Energy Networks will deliver additional public electric vehicle chargers integrated with the electricity network. The pilot project will develop a model to increase the pace, accessibility and efficiency of the deployment of public chargers.

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This partnership highlights the critical role that electricity networks have to play in delivering a zero carbon energy system, and in facilitating an electric vehicle revolution and the provision of clean energy for transport. This project will develop a new model for delivering both EV charging and electricity network infrastructure which can more effectively satisfy Scotland’s ambitions, including delivering inclusive universal access to the benefits of the decarbonisation of transport. We have invested over £30m since 2011 to establish one of the most comprehensive electric vehicle charging networks in Europe. There are now over 1,000 points across the country as part of our commitment to help people make the move to low and zero carbon vehicles.”

Frank Mitchell, CEO SP Energy Networks, said: “As Scotland drives towards net-zero emissions, decarbonising transport will be essential. This ground breaking pilot project will support the shift to electric vehicles we need to make sure that every community has equal access to charging points which are connected into Scotland’s electricity networks.”

SSEN managing director Colin Nicol said: “Government and industry have a shared determination to deliver net zero and it’s only by working together that we’ll realise this goal. When it comes to Scotland’s low carbon ambitions, no community should be left behind, and this partnership is exactly the joined-up approach needed to deliver investment in key EV infrastructure for our towns, cities and rural areas.”