More than 600 new electric vehicle charging sockets are to be installed across Ayrshire under a partnership between charge point operator Believ and the region’s three councils.
The rollout will cover approximately 300 locations across East, North and South Ayrshire, with installation of the first new charge points expected to begin in early 2027.
Urban, rural and island communities, including Arran, will benefit from the investment. The scheme aims to improve access to public charging for residents and visitors, particularly people who do not have a driveway or cannot charge a vehicle at home.
The 15-year agreement will combine more than £2.8 million from the Scottish Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund with more than £15 million in committed capital investment from Believ.
Delivered alongside Transport Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust, the partnership will see Believ manage the charging network’s operation and ongoing maintenance.
East Ayrshire is expected to receive around 180 additional charging sockets, North Ayrshire around 210 and South Ayrshire around 220.
The network will offer a mix of charging speeds, providing options for longer stays and overnight charging alongside rapid chargers for faster top-ups.
Infrastructure will also be put in place to allow more than 450 further chargers to be installed as demand increases, reducing the need for disruptive work in future.
At least five accessible charging locations will be included in each council area to help meet the needs of drivers with a range of mobility requirements.
Believ will also take over management of existing chargers, building on the network established through ChargePlace Scotland. Drivers will receive information about the change through channels including council websites and social media.
Guy Bartlett, chief executive of Believ, said the agreement marked the company’s first Scottish public sector partnership.
He said: “This partnership builds on the foundations already delivered through the ChargePlace Scotland network and will help support the transition to electric vehicles across Ayrshire’s urban, rural and island communities.
“Believ’s investment and experience across all charging speeds will help ensure the right infrastructure is delivered in the right locations for residents and visitors.”
East Ayrshire Council leader Councillor Douglas Reid said collaboration between the three authorities had helped secure substantial investment for the region.
He said: “By working collaboratively, we have secured substantial investment that will benefit communities, support economic growth, and help reduce carbon emissions across the region.
“We now look forward to being able to deliver a modern, accessible and sustainable electric vehicle charging network for the whole of Ayrshire.”
South Ayrshire Council leader Councillor Brian Connolly said the project would help meet growing demand for electric vehicle charging.
He said: “Through this partnership with Believ, Transport Scotland, Scottish Futures Trust and our council partners, we will greatly expand access to public charging facilities, making it easier and more convenient for residents, businesses and visitors to choose electric vehicles.”
North Ayrshire Council leader Councillor Tony Gurney welcomed the initiative, saying the authority wanted to widen access to electric vehicles and support its net-zero ambitions.
He said: “We look forward to seeing the scheme in operation and how it can make a real difference to people.”