ScottishPower, a leading green energy company, has announced a new partnership with HITRANS, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across Scotland’s remote and island communities. Under the new agreement, ScottishPower has been appointed to manage and enhance the wider EV charging network across Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland — building on the successful installation of 23 new rapid charging stations for HITRANS last year.
As the publicly funded ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) contract comes to an end, ScottishPower will assume responsibility for managing over 120 EV charging points in these regions. The company will provide end-to-end management, including mapping, payment systems, a charge point management platform, and a dedicated driver helpline.
The partnership aims to deliver a more reliable, customer-focused charging network across rural and island areas — where accessibility and consistency are key to supporting the region’s low-carbon transport ambitions. ScottishPower will introduce a range of service enhancements, including real-time monitoring, automated fault detection and resolution, flexible tariff structures, and charger-sharing capabilities. These improvements are designed to ensure a seamless experience for both councils and EV drivers, while supporting local authorities in managing and expanding their EV infrastructure efficiently.
The upgraded network will cover:
- 37 council-owned public EV chargers in Argyll and Bute (population: 87,810; annual visitors: 461,000)
- 29 in the Western Isles (population: 26,720; annual visitors: 219,000)
- 30 in Orkney (population: 22,270; annual visitors: 192,000)
- 27 in Shetland (population: 22,900; annual visitors: 80,000)
Through this collaboration, ScottishPower and HITRANS aim to make EV charging more accessible, dependable, and user-friendly, particularly in communities where infrastructure challenges can be more pronounced. The initiative also aligns with Scotland’s wider net-zero strategy by encouraging greater EV uptake and reducing transport-related
