Drivers of electric vehicles will be charged for the electricity that has been provided for free since installation. As part of attempts to expand the usage of electric vehicles, North Ayrshire’s Cabinet voted to establish fees at charging stations. Rapid charge points (above 43kW) will cost 30p per kWh, while Destination charge stations will cost 19p per kWh (all slower charge points e.g. 22kW, 7kW and 3kW). After 70 minutes for rapid charge points and 190 minutes for destination charge points, an over-stay flat cost of £10 will be applied automatically. Drivers of electric vehicles will be charged for electricity that has been provided for free since installation. As part of its aim to encourage the usage of electric vehicles, the North Ayrshire Council has decided to charge for charging stations.
Insights on North Ayrshire EV:
The council established its first charge station in 2014, and by December 2020, it will have installed 24 – all thanks to Transport Scotland’s ChargePlace Scotland Network scheme. “The council has offered free electricity from charge points to EV customers since 2014, according to meeting papers. Cabinet is being asked to approve the implementation of a tariff and an overstay levy for electric vehicle charging points in North Ayrshire.” The cost of electricity for these EV charging stations has been rising every year. The annual electricity bill in 2020 was £20,345, reflecting both public (£18,144) and NAC fleet car (£2,201) usage.
At the fast charging station (43kW and higher), the driver is charged 30p per kWh, while at the destination charging station, the driver is paid 19p per kWh (all slow charging points such as 22kW, 7kW, 3kW). After 70 minutes for fast charging points and 190 minutes for destination charging points, a £ 10 overstay flat cost will be imposed automatically. The first charging point was constructed by the council in 2014, and there will be 24 by December 2020. All of these projects are supported by Transport Scotland’s ChargePlace Scotland Network initiative. The council has been providing free electricity to EV users from charging points since 2014, according to the Cabinet meeting treatise.
“With rising electricity costs, Congress’s decision to provide free electricity to public EV infrastructure is no longer viable.”
A transition to a sustainable model, including the introduction of charging and overstay charges, is required for the North Ayrshire Council to maintain and expand its EV charging infrastructure. Tariffs have already been implemented in 12 of Scotland’s 32 councils.
Conclusion:
A shift towards a sustainable approach, which includes the introduction of charging fees and an overstay tax, is critical to ensure North Ayrshire Council can maintain and extend its EV charging infrastructure. Tariffs have already been implemented in 12 of Scotland’s 32 councils.
We are quite proud of the work we have done so far as part of our ambitious objectives to address the climate crisis,
said Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Green New Deal and Sustainability. We’ve established a goal of being a carbon-neutral region by 2030, and it’s critical that each of us contributes to that goal.
