U-turn urged on north-east EV charger repair costs
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MSP Liam Kerr has urged the Scottish Government to reverse its decision to stop subsiding the repair of EV charging points in a bid to help councils lower their tariff costs following recent price hikes across the north-east.
At Holyrood, the north-east MSP said recent cost rises for using the plug-in points in areas including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands were putting people off from making the switch to electric.
In recent months, tariffs in Aberdeen have risen from 19p to 47p per kilowatt hour and have nearly doubled in Aberdeenshire from 24p to 47p.
In the Highlands, the cost has been hiked by 130 per cent costing 70p per hour – up from 30p.
The surge in costs come after cash-strapped councils were stripped of Transport Scotland funding for repairing and maintaining its chargers despite around 8000 faults being reported across Scotland over the last year.
But in a response to Mr Kerr’s question, Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said it is now a “matter for negotiation” between the local authority and their maintenance providers when repairing faults.
In his question, Mr Kerr said: “One thing which won’t help in the repair and maintenance of EV charge points was the Scottish Government’s decision to no longer subsidise the repair and maintenance of plug-in points so cash-strapped councils struggle to pay for the upkeep of the chargers.
“This has already led to huge hikes in the use of the chargers in places such as Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
“Will the Scottish Government reconsider this decision to ensure lower costs at the charge point for drivers?”
In his response, Mr Harvie said: “The specific commercial arrangements for maintenance are a matter for the local authority and their maintenance providers.
“We do expect local authorities to ensure the obligations they enter into through those agreements with third parties are robust and provide for appropriate performance measures and penalties.”
Mr Kerr said: “The Scottish Government’s decision to stop subsiding the repair and maintenance of public charging points as well as general funding cuts have left councils with no choice but to hike up tariff charges.
“These price increases are now making it more expensive for users to charge their vehicles than they would be to buy fuel at a petrol station which is ridiculous.
“Owning an electric vehicle must be as convenient as owning a traditionally powered vehicle but the costs must be feasible, and the charging facilities must be working for this to happen.”
