Increased funding to encourage the uptake of EVs in fleets has been announced by the Scottish Government.

Humza Yousaf, minister for transport

The overall budget for the popular Low Carbon Transport Loan, has increased from £8m to £20m for 2018/19, allowing more businesses and consumers to make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before.

To further accelerate the transition of EVs into public sector fleets, the Switched on Fleets budget has been quadrupled from £1.2m to £4.8m in 2018/19. Additionally, a new funding stream of £10m, the ‘Switched on Towns and Cities Challenge Fund’ has been announced.

Minister for transport, Humza Yousaf, said: “We have more than doubled the amount of loan funding we currently offer to individuals and businesses, and have quadrupled the amount of support for public sector fleets so that we can demonstrate leadership and showcase the many benefits of EVs to all of Scotland.”

A future site of an EV charging hub at Falkirk Stadium has been funded through Transport Scotland’s European Regional Development Fund Low Carbon Travel and Transport Programme and follows on from other EV-beneficial projects like the ‘Electric A9’.

Yousaf continued, “From the site of the planned hub here in Falkirk and all the way to Scrabster, visitors and local communities will be able to benefit from multiple charge place hubs across the route.”