Evolt Charging has been awarded a new long-term contract by Dundee City Council to manage, operate and maintain public and fleet charging infrastructure across the city.
Following an open tender process and the newly awarded contract, Evolt will be responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of the council’s public and fleet EV charging infrastructure for a 20-year period.
Dundee City Council’s shift to a private operator comes in preparation for Transport Scotland’s plans to move the ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) network away from the publicly funded operator model by the end of 2025. It is one of the first local authorities to formally transition away from CPS ahead of the deadline, it said.
The council has worked in close partnership with Evolt Charging for almost 15 years, with the firm supplying the city with its first EV charging points in 2011, and supporting the council in creating the UK’s first EV charging hub at Princes Street in 2018.
Dundee’s fourth charging hub at Clepington Road, launched with support from Evolt, features new technologies, including a ‘second life’ battery system, and rainwater harvesting technology.
The next chapter in this partnership will see Evolt taking on the management and operation of more than 190 chargers, including 37 rapid chargers, six battery storage systems and seven solar arrays across Dundee’s four rapid charging hubs and three of the city’s car parks.
It also provides infrastructure support for the council’s fleet electrification programme and continuation of back-office support and services, which Evolt has provided since 2021.
Justin Meyer, Managing Director of SWARCO Smart Charging said:
“Since Dundee City Council became our first customer in Scotland in 2011, they have continued to lead the way in championing sustainable infrastructure. The Council has continued to demonstrate the importance of EV charging for the local community with positive long-term planning and support, and this total commitment approach remains.
“Over the last 15 years we have worked with government and local authorities across Scotland to deliver vital charging infrastructure where it is needed most, supported by our 70-strong team providing leading services and customer support from our Scotland base at MSIP, Dundee. Evolt are in a unique position to support organisations in Scotland transition away from CPS and are fully committed to making that migration as smooth and seamless as possible for all.”
Cllr Siobhan Tolland, Depute Convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure at Dundee City Council, said:
“This new agreement will help to ensure the continued growth and reliability of Dundee’s EV charging infrastructure. We have accomplished a great deal already, but we are not complacent. The Council will continue to work on actions set out in our Net Zero Transition Plan to become a more sustainable city and support the growth of quality green jobs. It is vital that we do so in a way that delivers economic and environmental value for our residents, and this partnership helps us do exactly that.”
Image courtesy of Evolt Charging/Dundee City Council
