The Low Carbon Transport Loan budget has been raised from £8 million to £20 million to help more businesses and customers make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs).
In addition, the Switched on Fleets budget has been quadrupled £1.2m to £4.8m, while a new funding stream has also been announced, the 'Switched on Towns and Cities Challenge Fund'.
The new funding initiatives were announced by Transport Minister Humza Yousaf during a visit to Falkirk Stadium, where a future EV charging hub is being developed through Transport Scotland's European Regional Development Fund Low Carbon Travel and Transport Programme. In addition, the Minister also launched the Electric A9 project, which aims to improve the availability of electric charging points along the route.
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Minister Yousaf said: "The Electric A9 will greatly expand and build further resilience into our existing ChargePlace Scotland infrastructure, which is already one of the most comprehensive in Europe.
"From the site of the planned hub here in Falkirk and all the way to Scrabster, visitors and local communities will be able to benefit from multiple charge place hubs across the route.
"Our ambitions, however, stretch even further than the longest road in Scotland. We want every town and city to enjoy the benefits of EVs and this requires an even wider charging network. The new Switched on Towns and Cities Challenge Fund will support local authorities and partners to implement activities to incentivise the uptake of EVs in urban areas.
"We have more than doubled the amount of loan funding we currently offer to individuals and businesses, and have quadrupled the amount of support for public sector fleets so that we can demonstrate leadership and showcase the many benefits of EVs to all of Scotland.
"Through the Electric A9 and the wider programme announcements, we are committed to securing the opportunities that the global transformation in mobility is creating."
(LM)
