Community transport operators have been invited to apply for Scottish Government funding to invest in zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure.
The latest round of the Plugged-in Communities Fund makes £4m available for the purchase or lease of electric vehicles, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, and the associated charging infrastructure.
Since the launch of the fund in 2021, more than £4.2 million in grants has been provided to 49 community transport organisations to procure 64 new, zero emission vehicles to replace their current diesel vehicles, the Scottish Government reported.
By switching their vehicles to electric, the recipients of the fund have saved around 8,000 tonnes of CO2, it added.
Minister for Connectivity Jim Fairlie said:
“The community transport sector provides many of our most vulnerable groups with access to essential goods and services and to employment, social or leisure activities, helping them to connect with their local areas and wider communities.
“We recognise that these organisations may not have the same access to finance as commercial entities, so I am pleased to announce a further round of our successful Plugged in Communities Fund.
“We’re making £4 million available for zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure for operators which provide affordable transport for those who are unable to use conventional public transport, or where public transport is not available.
“Supporting these vital services to decarbonise ensures a just transition and that communities are not left behind as we journey towards Net Zero.”
