HITRANS, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, has appointed ScottishPower to run its EV network as the publicly funded ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) contract finishes.
ScottishPower will assume the roles of mapping, payment provider, charge point management system and driver helpline operator at more than 120 EV charging points across Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
The deal supports Transport Scotland’s plans to move the CPS network away from the publicly funded operator model and shift to new networks by early 2026.
About 60 chargers will migrate to ScottishPower’s network this winter, with a further 60 to be replaced and migrated in early 2026.
It follows the installation of 23 new rapid charging stations on behalf of HITRANS last year.
Future developments under consideration by HITRANS in discussion with ScottishPower include integrating locally generated renewable energy and deploying battery storage technologies to enhance network resilience.
Gemma Robinson, EV infrastructure project manager for HITRANS, said, “Scottish Power submitted a very high-quality bid for this contract and we are looking forward to working with their Smart Mobility team again on new objectives, having already successfully delivered a project together.”
Chris Carberry, ScottishPower’s strategic development director, said: “We are delighted to be working with HITRANS to help facilitate a sustainable transition to electric vehicles across the region.
“We know that rural areas often face more challenges when it comes to accessing charging infrastructure, and we are committed to working with HITRANS to improve this and support wider public access to rapid charging for their vehicles as we all move towards a net zero future.”