Search: Glasgow

Roadchef has opened six new EV charging bays at its Hamilton Services site on the M74 in South Lanarkshire, served by three ultra-rapid chargers offering up to 360kW via CCS connectors. The location sits on a key corridor linking Glasgow, Edinburgh and northern England, where the UK's rapid and ultra-rapid charger network has grown 16 per cent over the past year. The 24/7 site aims to meet rising demand for high-power charging on one of Scotland's busiest motorway routes.

Why it matters: The rollout adds material ultra-rapid capacity on a strategic Scottish trunk route, signalling continued MSA investment in high-power infrastructure. Procurement teams and charge-point operators will note the 360kW specification and the 16 per cent annual network growth figure as benchmarks for corridor planning.

Governor Andy Beshear announced the opening of a four port electric vehicle charging station at the Pilot Travel Center in Paducah, Kentucky, located at 5353 Cairo Road off Interstate 24. The site, approved in December 2024, received $405,000 through Kentucky's EV Charging Program and offers up to 400 kilowatts per port. The Paducah location is the ninth station to open under the federally funded National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure programme, which has allocated $55 million in NEVI funds for Kentucky, with other operational sites including Berea, Campton, Glasgow, Grayson, Hazard, Morehead, Richmond and Sparta.

Why it matters: The announcement confirms Kentucky's NEVI deployment pace and typical award size, with $405,000 grants supporting four port, 400 kilowatt installations at strategic interstate locations. CPOs and contractors can track the state's rollout pattern across nine operational sites, with further openings expected in 2025 as the $55 million programme continues.

Electric coach operator Ember launched a Perth to Aberdeen coastal route on 8 April 2026 with ten return services daily, rising to 13 from 13 April and 18 from 29 April. A second route from Inverness to Ullapool starts 29 April with two daily returns priced at £2, timed for Stornoway ferry connections. The operator is also expanding stops on its Glasgow to Oban service from late April.

Why it matters: New intercity electric coach routes signal growing demand for charging infrastructure along Scottish coastal and Highland corridors. Operators planning 18 daily return services will need reliable, high power depot and en route charging to maintain timetables.

A Casey's convenience store in Glasgow, Kentucky has opened four fast charging ports, each capable of delivering up to 400 kW, as the sixth NEVI funded site in the state. The project received 706,000 dollars in May 2024 through Team Kentucky's EV Charging Program, with Francis Energy building and operating the equipment. Five other NEVI sites are already live in Berea, Grayson, Hazard, Richmond and Sparta as Kentucky expands its federally funded charging network.

Why it matters: The 706,000 dollar award and 400 kW per port specification offer a benchmark for NEVI project costs and technical standards in rural US corridors. Francis Energy's role as operator shows the build, own, operate model gaining traction in state led programmes, relevant for CPOs tracking public sector procurement patterns.

EG on The Move has lost a planning appeal for a proposed forecourt development at Glasgow Airport, according to Forecourt Trader. The decision blocks the company's plans to build on the airport site. No further details on the scale or scope of the proposed development were provided in the available information.

Why it matters: The refusal removes a potential high footfall charging location from the UK pipeline and signals planning risk for airport forecourt schemes, which are often seen as premium sites for EV infrastructure.

Glasgow City Council has started a battery recycling campaign aimed at reducing fire hazards in waste collection and processing facilities. The initiative addresses the growing problem of lithium batteries being incorrectly disposed of in general waste, which can ignite during collection or at recycling centres. The council is promoting proper battery disposal to safeguard waste management operations across the city.

Why it matters: For charge point operators and EV infrastructure teams, safe end of life handling of lithium batteries is becoming a regulatory and operational priority as the volume of electric vehicle batteries and portable power units grows. Local authority campaigns like Glasgow's signal tightening expectations around battery stewardship that may extend to commercial EV operators and depot managers.

Scottish operator Ember has started its E1 route, running hourly electric buses between Aberdeen city centre and Edinburgh Airport seven days a week. The three and a half hour service stops at Dundee, Brechin, Forfar, Bridge of Earn and Kinross, with single fares at £17.65 and returns at £35.30. The launch follows Ember's October expansion of electric bus routes in Scotland, including a Glasgow to Inverness service.

Why it matters: The rollout demonstrates growing commercial viability of long distance electric bus operations in Scotland, creating charging infrastructure demand along intercity corridors. Operators planning depot or en route charging for similar services can benchmark Ember's route economics and technical deployment model.

UK motor dealer Arnold Clark has integrated its national network of 60 ultra-fast charging stations with the Gireve roaming platform, making its 150 kW chargers accessible to a global community of EV drivers. The rollout is part of a £30 million infrastructure investment; each site hosts up to 12 ultra-fast chargers and offers public charging at 55 pence per kWh, below the UK market average of 76 pence per kWh recorded in June. The announcement was made on 3 February 2026 in a joint Paris and Glasgow release.

Why it matters: The Gireve integration expands interoperability for a major dealer-led network, lowering barriers for roaming users and signalling competitive pricing pressure in the UK ultra-fast segment. Procurement teams and roaming aggregators will note the scale of Arnold Clark's rollout and its below-market tariff as a benchmark for future tenders.

Glasgow City Council has commissioned a study into launching a free electric shuttle bus service, with six route options assessed to connect parts of the city centre. The service would cost between £764,000 and £1.5 million per year, though funding has not yet been secured. An update on the proposals, part of the city centre transport plan, will be presented to the council's operations and scrutiny committee this week.

Why it matters: The proposal signals potential procurement opportunities for electric bus suppliers and charging infrastructure providers in Glasgow. Similar free electric shuttle schemes already operate in UK cities including Sheffield, suggesting growing municipal appetite for zero emission public transport pilots.

Glasgow City Region, covering eight councils around Glasgow, has launched a tender for a charging point operator to install 3000 new charge points and take over 600 existing units under a 20 year concession. The contract, backed by more than £3.6 million from the Scottish government, is described as the largest of its kind in Scotland and covers street locations and council owned car parks. An Invitation to Participate was published in December 2025, with contract award expected in late 2026.

Why it matters: This 3600 unit, two decade concession represents a major long term revenue opportunity for CPOs and sets a benchmark for regional scale public charging procurement in Scotland. The turnkey model, including migration of existing assets, signals a shift towards consolidated municipal charging operations.