Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils have announced that EasyGo has been awarded a 20-year, £300 million contract to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging structure for the north of Scotland. Highland Council is acting as the head authority.

EasyGo is the leading provider of EV charging solutions, operating over 4,500 chargers across more than 1,500 locations across Ireland.

This large-scale EV infrastructure project will facilitate 570 new charging points installed across the north of Scotland by 2028, which is a huge step towards the region’s transition to net zero. This deal is set to double EV infrastructure already implemented, and EasyGo will also adopt and maintain the existing chargepoints owned by councils.

As part of this, Transport Scotland has committed more than £7 million of funding to enable the partnership under the Scottish government’s £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which was launched in 2022. This scheme allows local authorities to collaborate with the private sector in order to rollout EV charging networks across all of Scotland.

The north of Scotland partnership is the first inter-council contract to have been awarded and is the largest grant award in Scotland since the fund’s inception.

Councillor Ken Gowan, vice convenor of The Highland Council, said: “We are honoured to lead this groundbreaking initiative in the north of Scotland which sets a new standard for regional cooperation. This project exemplifies the power of collaboration as we work closely with our neighbouring local authorities to create a comprehensive and accessible EV charging network.

“By addressing the critical need for expanded charging infrastructure, we are removing significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, better serving our communities in both urban and rural areas and delivering a wide range of community benefits.

“Together, we are paving the way for a greener, more equitable and connected future cross the Highlands and beyond.”