A network of electric vehicle chargers has been rolled out for car club users in Edinburgh.
Newly reappointed Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, was in Marchmont on Thursday morning to see for herself the 72 new electric charging bays installed by The City of Edinburgh Council.
The funding was provided by Transport Scotland to provide new charging bays for the car club provider, Enterprise Car Club. Only the first phase of 20 chargers in 40 bays has so far been installed but the rest will be in place by the end of this year. At that point Edinburgh will have the biggest electric car club fleet provided by Enterprise in a single council area in the UK.
These chargers have been launched ahead of the enforcement of the Low Emission Zone beginning on 1 June 2024. It also means that the council has installed more than 100 EV chargers in the last two years.
Cllr Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “It’s great to see that we have extended the network of electric vehicle chargers across Edinburgh to include car club users in the city. Residents now have access to this modernised, cleaner and even more environmentally friendly form of cost-effective electric mobility. Motor transport contributes significantly to carbon emissions, and the switch to more sustainable transport is essential to achieving the city’s Net Zero target.
“The new chargers and vehicles also align with our City Mobility Plan to improve our transport system to make it cleaner and more sustainable, and create safe, attractive, and healthy streets and spaces for people to walk, wheel, cycle in and enjoy.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased that Scottish Government funding continues to support real alternatives to car ownership for people and communities. By supporting EV car clubs, people can experience the benefits of modern zero emission vehicles at a fraction of the cost required to purchase or lease their own vehicle. This helps those who only need a car occasionally, which is valuable in terms of encouraging a more sustainable transport network and reducing overall car use – improving air quality and road safety, all while reducing emissions and congestion.”
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