The Scottish government has earmarked £85 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and new EV incentives in its 2026/27 draft Budget, as part of a broader £4.3 billion investment in public and low-carbon transport.
Details of the EV-related measures remain limited. Budget documents state that the funding will be directed toward “low carbon programmes including expanding public EV charging infrastructure and supporting zero-emission vehicles,” without specifying how much will be allocated to individual initiatives or whether the government will directly invest in large-scale charging hubs.
One concrete measure outlined in the draft Budget is a tax incentive for charging operators. From April 1, 2026, qualifying EV charging points will be eligible for 100% non-domestic rates relief for a period of 10 years, according to the government. The policy is intended to reduce operating costs and encourage private-sector investment in charging infrastructure.
Speaking at an E.ON Drive charging station in Stirling, Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the funding would support both infrastructure development and consumer uptake. “We know that we need to reduce emissions and support a Just Transition to net zero by 2045 – that’s why, in 2026-27 we will provide £85 million to fund new and continuing low carbon activities, including further developing Scotland’s EV charging network and new incentives to continue to support customers and businesses to make the switch to electric vehicles,” she said.
The EV measures sit within a wider package of spending aimed at sustainable mobility. Of the total transport budget, £316 million has been allocated to what the government describes as “sustainable modes of transport,” including walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter journeys.
Scotland has set a statutory target of reaching net zero emissions by 2045, five years earlier than the rest of the UK. Expanding EV charging infrastructure is seen as a key requirement for accelerating the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to charging remains uneven.
The government said further details on how the EV funding will be deployed could follow as the Budget process moves forward.