Chargeplace Scotland, the national EV charging provider in Scotland, is set to be privatized due to the increasing demand for EVs. The Scottish government-backed firm, which is currently publicly funded, could be disbanded as early as this summer. This change in management means that each of the 2500 chargers currently managed by the firm will be put under the control of Scotland’s 32 unitary authorities, which will partner with private firms to manage the infrastructure.
Launched in 2010, Chargeplace Scotland is the UK’s fifth largest charging network and operates two-thirds of all the chargers north of the border. However, with the demand for chargers in Scotland increasing, it has become unsustainable for the public sector to deliver this alone. To meet climate-change targets, the pace and scale of investment in the public charging network will need to increase over the coming years.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said that they will invest £60 million in public and private investment to double the size of the network to 6000 chargers by 2026. The network will be largely financed by the private sector, and funds will be focused on areas of the network where private investment alone is unviable. The investment could also include upgrade works to existing chargers, a quarter of which were found to be faulty in a BBC Disclosure spot check last November.
The change in management means that each of the 2500 chargers currently managed by Chargeplace Scotland will be put under the control of Scotland’s 32 unitary authorities, which will partner with private firms to manage the infrastructure. Some small-time operators may remain supported by Chargeplace Scotland “on the back end”. The current Chargeplace Scotland contract has the option to run until mid-2025, and Transport Scotland will continue to evaluate the best long-term approach for managing a seamless transition to the right charging mix to meet their vision for the future of public EV charging.
The Scottish Daily Star reported an 8% increase in EV sales between 2021 and 2022, while the BBC has said that 50,000 of the 760,000 UK-registered EVs reside in Scotland. The investment in the charging network will help meet the increasing demand for EVs and support Scotland’s climate-change targets.
In conclusion, Chargeplace Scotland, the national EV charging provider in Scotland, is set to be privatized due to the increasing demand for EVs. The Scottish government-backed firm, which is currently publicly funded, could be disbanded as early as this summer. The change in management means that each of the 2500 chargers currently managed by Chargeplace Scotland will be put under the control of Scotland’s 32 unitary authorities, which will partner with private firms to manage the infrastructure. The investment in the charging network will help meet the increasing demand for EVs and support Scotland’s climate-change targets.
