Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop joined Edinburgh’s Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Scott Arthur yesterday to launch 72 new electric charging bays installed by the Council.
Transport Scotland has provided the Council with funding for the new bays to be used by the local authority’s current car club provider, Enterprise Car Club. The first phase of 20 chargers (40 charging bays) has been installed with the rest due to be rolled out by the end of this year allowing Enterprise Car Club to provide in Edinburgh, their biggest electric car club fleet for a single local borough or council in the UK.
As well as benefiting existing members, the new car club chargers and electric vehicles provide opportunities for new users to try out and use electric vehicles without needing to own their own vehicle. This offers significant cost savings to users, as well as helping to improve congestion and air quality within Edinburgh, with car club vehicles compliant within the Low Emission Zone which will be enforced from June 2024.
The Council has delivered over 100 electric vehicle chargers since 2022 with funding from Transport Scotland and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. This roll-out is designed to encourage and support the take-up of cleaner, low emission electric vehicles.
Councillor 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.”
Find out more about becoming a car club member.
Where to find car club charging points across Edinburgh.
Where to find charging points across Edinburgh
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