Electric vehicle charging operator EZO has begun the first phase of a plan to significantly expand charging infrastructure across northern and north-east Scotland, starting with the migration of 177 existing public chargers from the ChargePlace Scotland network to its own platform.
The migration marks the opening stage of a 20-year contract under which EZO will ultimately install and operate 570 new charging points across the region by 2028, effectively doubling existing provision. The agreement is the first inter-council contract awarded through the Scottish Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and represents the largest single grant made under the scheme.
In the initial phase, EZO is taking over chargers located in four local authority areas — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Highland and Moray. Drivers who previously used ChargePlace Scotland units in these areas will now need to access them via the EZO mobile application, which the company said is free to use and provides real-time charger availability, including access through roaming partners.
Over time, EZO will assume responsibility for all 425 existing public charging points in the region, alongside the rollout of new infrastructure. Installation of the additional 570 chargers is expected to begin later in the contract period, with deployment accelerating toward the end of the decade.
“This is an exciting milestone for EZO as we bring our expertise to Scotland and begin delivering on this transformative contract,” said Ollie Chatten, chief executive of EZO. “We’re making the migration as seamless as possible for drivers, while building a smarter, more connected charging network to support Scotland’s Net Zero ambitions.”
Local authorities said the transition is already under way. Stewart Adams, co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said the migration of chargers in the area began on Jan. 12 and will take place in three phases, following earlier transitions in Aberdeen City and the Highlands. He added that new charging infrastructure is scheduled to begin rolling out in 2026, with further details on locations and charger specifications to be announced.
The project aligns with Scotland’s broader push to expand EV charging access, particularly in rural and remote communities, as part of its goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2045. Officials said the long-term contract structure is intended to provide certainty for investment while ensuring consistent service standards across council boundaries.