SPEN and SSEN announce £7.5m EV partnership with Scottish government

Scottish network operators SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have partnered with both the Scottish government and Transport Scotland in a £7.5 million deal to deliver more public electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

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.

Meanwhile infrastructure needs for new charging points along the route of the Electric A9 will be also be identified and mapped.

In central and southern Scotland, SP Energy Networks will deliver additional public electric vehicle chargers integrated with the electricity network.

A pilot project will develop a model to increase the pace, accessibility and efficiency of the deployment.

Responding to the announcement, SPEN’s chief executive Frank Mitchell 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.

“This strategic partnership will allow us to efficiently join the dots between renewable electricity generation, the distribution network, and public electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to make sure all drivers across Scotland have equal access to our electric future.”

Colin Nicol, SSEN managing director, 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.” 

Attending the launch event at the University of Strathclyde Power Networks Demonstration Centre, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the partnership highlighted the “critical role” that networks have in delivering a zero-carbon energy system.

She said: “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 £30 million 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.”