Transport for Scotland has awarded over £3m to a group of local authorities to support them in expanding public electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The north-west Scotland EV Infrastructure Fund project is being led by the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) and is supporting Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar councils.

The Government's EV Infrastructure Fund (EVIF) aims to provide public funding support for ‘less commercially viable sites' for EV charge points, especially those found in rural and island communities.

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: ‘In addition to the public funding from EVIF, we anticipate the private sector investing at least an additional £30m of its own capital, meaning public funding should be prioritised for those areas of Scotland less likely to benefit from stand-alone private sector investment in public EV charging infrastructure.

‘This includes rural and island communities like those which will be served by this north-west Scotland project led by HITRANS. I look forward to hearing how the EVIF project helps EV drivers across this region, and all of Scotland, over the coming months and years.'

Ranald Robertson, HITRANS partnership director, said: ‘Collaborating across the region to share our resources and challenges has highlighted some unique opportunities that we are keen to explore in parallel, such as the abundant renewable energy generation in the area.

‘Our aim is to grow a regional charging network that is financially self-sustaining and locally powered as much as possible. This investment will help support a just transition to a more environmentally sustainable, reliable and affordable transport network.'

Argyll and Bute Council's policy lead for roads, transport and amenity services, Councillor John Armour, said: ‘This is great news for Argyll and Bute. We have been working closely with Transport Scotland for some time now to develop our bid for the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, and we are extremely grateful to receive this funding award.

‘We have a strategy in place that has identified over 80 potential sites for new electric chargers in the area. This funding will enable us to start looking at what is affordable and how we prioritise the development of the network.'