Scotland publishes implementation plan for 2030 public EV charger target

The Scottish Government has published its Draft Implementation Plan outlining how it will support the delivery of approximately 24,000 additional public electric vehicle (EV) charge points by 2030.

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

It concludes that delivering the necessary 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 Government.

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, “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, which represents the UK’s charging industry said, “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 .”