Glasgow Introduces EV Charging Fees: What You Need to Know.
Glasgow is set to introduce electric vehicle (EV) charging fees starting next month, shifting away from the free public charging era. With the rising demand for EVs and fast charging infrastructure, the city council aims to stay in line with other Scottish local authorities and encourage investment in the charging network.
Beginning April 11th, EV users in Glasgow will be required to pay a £1 connection fee for each charging session, in addition to the cost of the electricity consumed. Standard charging units (7-22kW) will be priced at 40p per kWh, while rapid units (50-150kW) will be charged at a higher rate of 70p per kWh. To prevent drivers from overstaying their welcome, the city council is also implementing a £40 overstay charge at all charging stations.
To ensure efficient use of charging facilities, the council has established maximum stay durations: one hour for rapid charging units, two hours for on-street standard units in the city center, three hours for on-street standard units outside the city center, and four hours for standard units in council family car parks, such as Glasgow Life venues.
Cllr Angus Millar, the council’s transport convener, highlighted the need for the introduction of the tariff, stating that it will discourage drivers from occupying charging bays for extended periods and help foster cooperation between public and private sectors in developing the charging network.
Currently, Glasgow boasts over 300 live charge points across 173 units for public use. In 2022, nearly 160,000 charging sessions took place on the network, consuming a whopping 3.05 million kWh. The council plans to increase the number of public charging points by around 35% this year to meet the growing demand.
The council believes that introducing charging fees will make private sector involvement more likely, as companies will be able to generate income from providing charging services. All council chargers are connected to ChargePlace Scotland, and any issues regarding tariff collection or network faults should be directed to ChargePlace.
With the new fees in place, Glasgow aims to promote the responsible use of EV charging facilities, support the growth of the charging network, and contribute to the city’s efforts in reducing transport-related emissions.
