Introducing tariffs for Glasgow’s public network of charging points for electric vehicles will help the city meet the future demand for charging, according to a new council report.

The council is due to bring in a levy for electric vehicle charging later this year after subsidising the cost of electricity for several years as a way to kickstart a shift to cleaner, more sustainable electric vehicles. Revenue from charging will go towards covering the operation and maintenance of public charging points in Glasgow, which is expected to cost £1.35m in 2023.

In the report presented to the Environment and Liveable Neighbourhoods City Policy Committee, it is identified that commercial investment in charging infrastructure is essential to support the surging demand for electric vehicles. At the current rate of growth, up to 1 million of Scotland’s 3 million vehicles are expected to be electric by 2030.

For Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Transport, the introduction of a tariff in Glasgow will incentivise the private sector to see electric charging as a potential income generator and join the effort to expand the city’s charging network.

Councillor Millar said: “Subsidising the public charging network has been the right thing to do and electric vehicles are now a far more common sight on our roads. Glasgow now has the most public charging points of any local authority in Scotland, but we know the growing demand for charging will outstrip the current provision before long.

“”We have plans to increase our public charging points by around 35% this year, but collaboration between national and local government, along with private sector input and investment, are needed to further develop the charging network. “Introducing a tariff will underpin the viability of the network as it matures into core transport infrastructure for city as well as discouraging overstaying in bays.”

“Last year our network supported almost 160,000 charging sessions that led to around 10.4million miles of emission free driving.  Electric vehicles will be a key part of the effort to reduce transport-related emissions. It’s vital the public and private sectors work together on a charging network that supports our plans to create a more sustainable transport system for Glasgow.”

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The council’s City Administration Committee approved the introduction of a tariff for EV charging in April 2021. A range of factors, including the impact of the covid pandemic, has led to a delay in the implementation of the tariff scheme.  Over 330 charging points have been installed in Glasgow with a further 119 due to be brought in over the course of 2023.

The charging tariff has still to be announced, but considerations for setting a tariff include covering rising electricity costs, tariffs in nieghbouring local authorities to avoid ‘EV tourism’ and setting a rate that avoids creating a barrier to the private sector entering the market. An overstay fee is also being assessed to discourage drivers from charging bay blocking.

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