Question reference: S5W-34308
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 23 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has been made of electric vehicle charging installations that require upgrading; what its plans are to ensure that all electric vehicles will be compatible with the new second generation electric vehicle charging devices, and what assessment it has made to certify that all existing first generation electric vehicle chargers will be retrofitted to ensure compatibility and improve recharge speed.
Answer
The Scottish Government has invested over £32m in public charging infrastructure, throughout the country, to build a diverse vehicle charging network (ChargePlace Scotland); in close collaboration with Scotland’s Local Authorities. Scotland has one of the most comprehensive EV charging networks in Europe, with consumers benefiting from a variety of developments in charging technologies, including rapid chargers and contactless payments.
Funding is continuing to be made available to ensure the network is upgraded where appropriate and fit-for-purpose. We are also supporting innovation in the sector, through initiatives such as Project Pace, a joint project with Scottish Power networks to deliver state of the art electric vehicle charging in a way that also optimises investment in the electricity grid.
The electric vehicle market is evolving quickly, with increasing opportunities for commercial investors and new business models to support the deployment of emerging technologies, which we will continue to encourage alongside our own investments in ChargePlace Scotland.