The prospects of delivering the electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support Scotland's 2032 transport electrification targets

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has put a considerable strain on the resources and environment, thereby adversely impacting sustainability targets and climate change objectives. In a global context, cities are being transformed to adopt sustainable measures by integrating cleaner energy generation and smart mobility solutions. Zero-emission based Electric Vehicles (EVs) offer a huge opportunity to improve air quality in cities by reshaping the current carbon-intensive transportation infrastructure, thus benefiting the health, environmental and quality of life for its residents. In 2017, the Scottish Government adopted an ambitious target of phasing out new fossil-fueled vehicles and replacing them with Electric Vehicles (EVs) by 2032 and 8 years ahead of the UK government targets. This research focused on identifying infrastructure challenges associated with setting up of electric charging infrastructure required for fueling EVs and whether current government policies were adequate for meeting Scotland’s 2032 transport electrification targets. Furthermore, the role of industry, local authority and end-user stakeholders in bridging the identified gaps was critically analyzed to review the preparedness of Scotland in meeting the above targets. The development of an EV market presents an opportunity for Scotland to become a technology leader ahead of other countries. However, as the technology is evolving at a fast rate, it was quite difficult to predict the future with accuracy. It is hoped that by addressing the current policy gaps, providing adequate funding support for technology adoption, infrastructure deployment and promoting stronger stakeholder engagement will help change the perception towards embracing EVs. The key challenge facing policymakers will be to identify the correct approach and roadmap to phasing out fossil-fueled vehicles and replacing them with EVs. Achieving the milestone for Scotland will be more tedious, but could offer opportunities for exporting of innovation-based EV technologies globally