The two local authorities have received an EV Infrastructure Fund Grant Award of £1.925 million for the upgrades.

This will see an expansion of the current network at local authority sites and ensure motorists without access to off-street parking, in urban and rural areas, have access to nearby charging hubs, either in car parks or on-street.

Perth & Kinross Council will act as the lead authority throughout the procurement process and the delivery of the project.

The contract, spanning 15-20 years, will involve the supply, installation, and maintenance of existing and new EV chargers across both council areas.

A dedicated back office team will manage the network, including tariff collection, usage data, payments, and maintenance.

The project has secured a total of £2.205m in funding, including £280,000 for EV strategies and procurement, and an EV Infrastructure Fund Grant Award of £1.925m. The expected project delivery is set to begin in Autumn 2025 with contracts going out to tender this summer.

Councillor Eric Drysdale, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “Making sure we have a reliable and easily accessible charging network is incredibly important as more people choose electric vehicles.

“This valuable funding will allow us to improve the network across Perth and Kinross and Angus, particularly for those living in more rural areas.”

Councillor Richard Watters, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, added: “More people are choosing electric or hybrid vehicles and it is vital we have a charging network that can cope with this growing demand.

“I am delighted to see this project progressing and our transport network becoming greener.”

Councillor Mark McDonald, Communities convener for Angus Council, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Angus and Perth & Kinross as we improve our EV infrastructure, building on the Clean Growth and Low Carbon development and innovation work we are delivering across Angus.

“I’m excited to see the benefits this funding will bring, especially for those living, working, and visiting our rural areas, as we deliver an accessible EV charging network.”

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased to confirm funding of over £1.9 million from the Scottish Government to support electric vehicle charging across Angus, Perth and Kinross.

“Transport remains the largest source of carbon emissions and EVs enable drivers to take climate action and help protect our environment.

“This significant investment from our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will ensure that people and communities can benefit from this switch to EVs, so that no one and no part of the country is left behind – including those living in, working or visiting Angus, Perth and Kinross.”