The draft plan sets out 15 actions to achieve the growth necessary in the public charging infrastructure and deliver Scotland’s vision for public EV charging.

According to the plan, delivering approximately 24,000 additional public EV charge points by 2030 will require leadership and collective action from a range of organisations that share responsibility for delivering public EV charging, including businesses investing in EV charging, energy network operators and the government. In doing so, Transport Scotland hopes it will ensure greater range confidence, supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.

Extensive engagement was undertaken to help develop the draft plan. Transport Scotland is now formally consulting before the final Vision Implementation Plan is published later in 2025.

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased to be publishing today the Draft Implementation Plan which sets out how we will support the delivery of approximately 24,000 additional public electric vehicle charging points by 2030. Transport remains the largest cause of greenhouse gas emissions and EVs enable drivers to take climate action and cutting harmful emissions. We need to ensure that people from all parts of Scotland can benefit from this switch to EVs, so that no one and no part of the country is left behind.

“In October 2024, Scotland met its target for 6,000 public EV charge points two years ahead of the 2026 deadline. That target was achieved through a combination of public funding and increasing private sector investment. We now need to go faster and further to achieve our ambitions. Public money cannot and should not support this infrastructure alone.

“We have already seen significant growth in the level of private sector investment in the public charging infrastructure essential to support the transition to EVs. This draft plan outlines how the private sector will take on a leading role, it sets out the actions necessary for us to realise the ambition of our Vision, which is to give Scotland a well-designed, accessible, comprehensive, and convenient public charging network that works for everyone.

“Our consultation is now open – and I would encourage anyone with an interest in electric vehicles and public charging to have their say and to help inform our finalised implementation plan which we will publish next year.”

Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, said: “ChargeUK is committed to making EV charging as convenient and affordable as possible. That’s why our members are putting charge points in the ground at a record pace, with a new one being installed every 25 minutes.

“The Transport for Scotland implementation plan acknowledges that for the rollout to go further and faster, we need the support of DNOs and local authorities and we are looking forward to working with the Scottish Government to deliver this.

“Investment in charge points is driven by the private sector, with ChargeUK members committing to invest £6 billion by 2030.

“To encourage and support more investment into public charge points, coordination between CPOs, DNOs and all forms of government is vital.”