Online sessions to look at future of electric transport in north
Online talks are to be presented on the future of electric transport in the Highlands, including one that focuses specifically on Caithness and Sutherland.
The sessions are being delivered by Highland Council in collaboration with Home Energy Scotland to mark Climate Week (September 14-19).
Communities will be updated on work taking place, the ambition for a net-zero carbon future, and current funding streams to enable residents to make a shift toward carbon-neutral transport.
People across the region are invited to voice their opinions, experiences and ideas regarding electric vehicle uptake.
The sessions for particular areas are:
- Monday, September 14 (6pm): Caithness and Sutherland
- Tuesday, September 15 (6pm): Ross and Cromarty
- Wednesday, September 16 (6pm): Lochaber, Skye and Kyle of Lochalsh
- Thursday, September 17 (6pm): Badenoch and Strathspey
- Saturday, September 19 (10am): Inverness-shire and Nairnshire
Topics of conversation will include:
- What is EV and why is this the vehicle of the future? An introduction to electric vehicles
- Update on what's been happening – current infrastructure development and plans in Highlands and locally
- Help and advice for people interested in making the switch to EV
- Question-and-answer session – an opportunity to pitch your questions and get involved in wider discussions about climate change and community sustainability.
The talks will help inform the new Highland EV infrastructure strategy, due to be launched in 2021.
In addition, Highland Council also carrying out a survey to better understand the needs of communities in making a shift towards low-carbon travel. The link can be found here .
The survey and Climate Week events are part of wider work to expand and increase uptake of EVs in Highland. The electrification of transport is one of the key solutions to meet the Scottish Government’s ambition to reduce Scotland's emissions of all greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2045.
Councillor Trish Robertson, chairperson of the council’s climate change working group, said: "Highland Council, in collaboration with various partners, has made excellent progress in terms of delivering EV charging infrastructure across the region. However, as a council, we recognise that the expedited electrification of transport is essential to reduce local carbon emissions and to meet our net-zero ambitions.
"The events organised as part of Climate Week will give Highland residents an opportunity to ask questions and have their voices heard in respect of how we move this agenda forward, and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part."
Anna Myeshkova, EV co-ordinator for the council said: "A lot of work has been done to implement EV charging infrastructure, but we understand that increasing demand for EVs over the coming months and years will require further improvements and additions to the charging network, to cater for future mass use of electric vehicles. Communities in the heart of Highlands now have an ideal opportunity to shape the area’s transition to a net-zero transport system."