Charge point operator (CPO) Believ has partnered with East, North and South Ayrshire Councils to deliver more than 600 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at approximately 300 locations across Ayrshire in southwest Scotland. The rollout will support residents and visitors across the region, including those without access to a driveway or the means to privately charge their vehicle.
The 15-year agreement will be delivered alongside Transport Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust. The project will combine over £2.8 million of funding from Scottish Government’s EV Infrastructure Fund with more than £15 million in committed capital investment from Believ, with the CPO managing all charge point operation and ongoing maintenance.
The rollout will provide a mix of charging speeds, from Standard Plus to Rapid, providing practical charging options for drivers requiring long-stay or overnight charging, as well as faster top ups.
Urban, rural and island communities will be included in the rollout, extending access to EV charging across the region, including the Isle of Arran. Through the partnership between Believ and the Ayrshire councils, East Ayrshire will receive around 180 additional chargers, North Ayrshire around 210, with South Ayrshire receiving around 220. This is alongside the rollout of passive provision to enable the installation of over 450 new chargers without disruption when usage increases.
Believ will also take over management of existing chargers, helping to build on the foundations already delivered through the ChargePlace Scotland network.
At least five accessible charging locations in each council area will be included in the rollout, to help ensure public charging is accessible for drivers with a range of mobility needs.
Stephen Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, said:
“I’m delighted that £2.8 million from the Scottish Government will support 600 new EV chargers in Ayrshire.
“Our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund is enabling local authorities to partner with each other and with the private sector to attract private investment and help drivers in Ayrshire continue to make the switch to EVs.”
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, says Ayrshire is an important region for Believ’s first Scottish public sector partnership:
“We’re proud to be supporting the region in expanding access to reliable and accessible EV charging across the region.
“This partnership builds on the foundations already delivered through the ChargePlace Scotland network and will help support the transition to electric vehicles across Ayrshire’s urban, rural and island communities. Believ’s investment and experience across all charging speeds will help ensure the right infrastructure is delivered in the right locations for residents and visitors.”
Installation of the first new charge points is expected to begin in early 2027. All of Believ's chargers can be found using the Zapmap app, where live status and availability information is shared 24-hours a day. Payment for charging sessions can easliy be made directly via Zapmap, either in the app or with the Zapmap charging card.
