When you picture the perfect holiday, what comes to mind? For me, it tends to involve a family road trip through rural Scotland using our electric car. But unfortunately, even in 2024, travelling to remote areas in an EV doesn’t come without challenges.

We are making incredible progress with public EV charging. The latest figures from the UK Government’s Office of Zero Emissions Vehicles tell us of a near 50 per cent year-on-year increase in public EV charge points.  In many places across Scotland, the notion that there are not enough of them no longer holds true.

Despite these encouraging headline figures, it’s not enough to focus only on numbers: we need chargers to be of the right speed and in the right places. Rather than concentrated mainly in densely populated areas, or near busy roads, we need a more even spread across the country to make EV ownership accessible to everyone. 

While ultra-rapid charging is the solution for motorway services and other strategic locations, I believe there’s still a role for "slower" chargers in places where people leave their cars for longer.  This is a view shared by Consumer Scotland, in research published in August.

Take tourist accommodation, for example. EV chargers at short-term lets or in guest house car parks let visitors charge economically while they sleep. These places don’t need expensive ultra-rapid hubs; a basic charge point can cost as little as £1,000 to install, which can soon be recouped if it encourages more guests.

Attracting more private sector investment is crucial, and since all councils adopted our recommendations and introduced tariffs broadly in line with the market rate, we are getting there. This quarter will likely see the number of privately-operated charge points across Scotland exceed public sector counterparts for the first time. So much so, we estimate that £40-55 million will be invested this year alone.

This is great news, as to ensure it is fit for purpose, financially sustainable and well-maintained, our public charging network must be managed like a business. Reliability is crucial; as the EV charging market matures, operators of unreliable charge points will not survive.

If private sector companies roll out and operate our EV charging network, this will free up councils to play an enabling role, paving the way for creative solutions to make the use of EVs easier.  For example, some local authorities have started to trial the installation of small channels through the pavement for homes with on-street parking, allowing residents to safely charge at home.

Solutions like this are key for a Just Transition. According to Zap Map data, charging a car at home costs on average £680 per year, compared to £1,820 at public charge points. We need to close that gap.  This is why we’re supporting Transport Scotland to work with the private sector to install charging in areas without driveways or where the rural economics remain challenging.

The public appetite for greener transport is there, and the right infrastructure is crucial to building consumer confidence. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, but I’m optimistic we’re on the right road, and with the right chargers in the right place, we’ll reach our destination, no matter how rural.

Matthew Jackson is Associate Director at Scottish Futures Trust

Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk