A NEW rapid charging hub has been unveiled at Loch Ryan ferry port in Cairnryan as a Scots EV company receives a further £10m spending boost.
Scotland’s only private electric vehicle charge point operator, FOR EV, has been given the £10m follow-on investment by the Scottish National Investment Bank.
The funding will help FOR EV’s plans to deliver electric vehicle charging hubs across the UK and further expand its fleet offerings, which offers solutions for vehicle fleets of all sizes to transition to net zero.
The latest of these points was unveiled this week at Loch Ryan ferry port in Cairnryan, near Stranraer, where 1.3 million of Stena Line’s annual customers will now have access to rapid electric vehicle charging.
Lindsay Wallace, FOR EV’s executive director, sales & innovations Europe, said: “Our newest hub will future-proof Stena Line’s Loch Ryan Port while also providing local people with improved access to high-quality charging facilities.
“The £10m of follow-on investment from the Bank will support our ambitious plans to further improve EV infrastructure across the country.
“For example, we hope to work with SOSE to explore other prospective charging sites that will help accelerate the development of a robust EV infrastructure for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
“This will support and encourage more businesses and communities to adopt electric vehicles as we journey towards a Net Zero future.”
The new charging hub can charge eight EVs simultaneously and provide around 320 charging sessions a day.
The hub is the result of a public-private joint venture between FOR EV and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
SOSE has invested £170,000 into the facility within the ‘landside’ area of the port, which forms part of the UK’s busiest domestic short sea route, Cairnryan-Belfast.
Martin Valenti, Director of Net Zero, Nature and Entrepreneurship at SOSE, said: “By supporting FOR EV to install new rapid EV charge points at Loch Ryan Port, we’ve significantly improved the port’s infrastructure.
“This investment will provide a boost to drivers who have already made the transition to electric vehicles, encourage more to make the switch and help the South of Scotland play a key role in the wider goal to reach Net Zero by 2045.”
As well as serving Stena Line’s customers, the hub can also be used by the locals and two additional charge points have also been installed specifically for use by Police Scotland.
Andy Clapp, Executive Director at the Scottish National Investment Bank said: “The provision of sufficient charging points is an essential part of Scotland’s net zero transition.
“We are pleased to back FOR EV’s ambitious plans and its ability to grow and scale as a company, delivering widespread environmental and economic impact.
“FOR EV is aligned to the Bank’s mission to help deliver a net zero Scotland.”
