600 new electric vehicle charging sockets

More than 600 new electric vehicle charging sockets are to be installed across Ayrshire under a 15-year deal between the region’s three councils and charging firm Believ.
The sockets will be spread across roughly 300 sites in East, North and South Ayrshire. The rollout will include towns, rural areas and island communities, among them the Isle of Arran. The first installations are due to start in early 2027.
South Ayrshire is set to receive about 220 of the new sockets, North Ayrshire around 210 and East Ayrshire roughly 180.
East Ayrshire Council leader Douglas Reid called the deal “an important step” for all three authorities as they work towards net zero by 2030. He said moving drivers from petrol and diesel to electric would play a big part in reaching that goal. He also praised the councils for working together to secure significant investment.
The partnership follows a public consultation in spring 2025, when the councils asked people who live, work in and visit Ayrshire about their charging needs.
The network is aimed at residents who cannot charge at home, such as those without a driveway, as well as visitors to the area. Standard Plus units, typically 22kW, will suit drivers parking for several hours or overnight, while rapid chargers of around 50kW will provide quicker top-ups. Each council area will have at least five accessible charging locations for drivers with mobility needs.
The scheme has been planned with future demand in mind. Ducting and cabling laid in advance, known as passive provision, will let more than 450 extra chargers be added later without further disruption.
Believ will also take over the running of existing public chargers in the three council areas that currently form part of the ChargePlace Scotland network. Drivers will be kept informed about the changeover through council websites and social media.
Believ has committed more than £15 million of capital, alongside £2.8 million from the Scottish Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. The firm will operate and maintain every charge point, and the scheme is being delivered with Transport Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust.
Stephen Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, said he was pleased the government money would back the rollout. He said the fund was getting councils to work together and with private companies, drawing in outside investment and helping more Ayrshire motorists go electric.
The contract is Believ’s first public sector partnership in Scotland. The company already runs more than 2,300 public charge points across the UK and has won a run of large council contracts. In June, Hampshire County Council picked it to deliver more than 17,000 charge points.
Chief executive Guy Bartlett said the partnership would build on what the ChargePlace Scotland network had already delivered. He said it would support the switch to electric across Ayrshire’s towns, countryside and islands. He added that Believ’s experience across all charging speeds would help make sure “the right infrastructure is delivered in the right locations for residents and visitors.”