The 15-year agreement, delivered in conjunction with Transport Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust, combines over £2.8 million from the Scottish Government’s EV Infrastructure Fund with more than £15 million in capital investment from Believ. The charge point operator will manage all operations and maintenance.
The rollout will feature a range of charging speeds, from standard plus to rapid chargers, catering to drivers needing long-stay or overnight charging, as well as quicker top-ups. Urban, rural, and island communities, including the Isle of Arran, will benefit from the expansion. East Ayrshire will receive around 180 chargers, North Ayrshire approximately 210, and South Ayrshire around 220. Additionally, passive provision will enable over 450 more chargers to be installed as demand grows.
Believ will also assume management of existing chargers, building upon the ChargePlace Scotland network. Drivers will be notified about the migration process through various channels, including social media and council websites. At least five accessible charging locations will be established in each council area to accommodate drivers with mobility needs.
“"I’m delighted that £2.8 million from the Scottish Government will support 600 new EV chargers in Ayrshire. Our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund is enabling local authorities to partner with each other and with the private sector to attract private investment and help drivers in Ayrshire continue to make the switch to EVs."
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, highlighted Ayrshire as a key region for their first Scottish public sector partnership, stating, “We’re proud to be supporting the region in expanding access to reliable and accessible EV charging across the region. 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.”
Councillor Tony Gurney, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, expressed enthusiasm: “We are delighted to be supporting this initiative and look forward to seeing the impact it will have across Ayrshire. We want to make Ayrshire greener and to try and give everyone equal access to technology so that we can encourage as many people as possible to go electric. The use of electric cars – a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way of travelling – is something we want to make accessible and affordable to support our net-zero ambitions. We look forward to seeing the scheme in operation and how it can make a real difference to people.”
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, noted the significance of the step towards their net-zero by 2030 ambition: “This is an important step that all three councils are taking in a bid to be net-zero by 2030, and the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles will play a huge role in helping us achieving this. 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.”
Councillor Brian Connolly, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, added: “This is a significant investment in South Ayrshire's transport infrastructure that will help us meet the growing demand for electric vehicle charging across our communities. 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.”
Installation of the first new charge points is expected to begin in early 2027. Further details can be found online.
