EV charging operator Believ will install more than 600 new charging points across East, North and South Ayrshire under a 15-year partnership with the three Scottish councils. The rollout will cover approximately 300 locations, with the first installations expected to begin in early 2027.
The project will expand public charging provision across urban and rural communities, including the Isle of Arran. Believ will also take over management of existing chargers operated through the ChargePlace Scotland network in the three council areas.
More Than 600 Charging Points Planned
The planned rollout comprises approximately 180 charging points in East Ayrshire, 210 in North Ayrshire and 220 in South Ayrshire.
The network will include standard chargers for longer parking periods and rapid charging units. Details of the specific charging hardware have not yet been announced.
The partnership also includes a requirement for at least five accessible charging locations in each council area. In addition, more than 450 locations will receive passive provision, allowing charging infrastructure to be installed at a later stage if demand increases.
Project Combines Public Funding and Private Investment
The project is supported by more than £2.8 million from the Scottish Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (EVIF), alongside more than £15 million in private investment from Believ.
The agreement marks Believ’s first public-sector partnership in Scotland. The company currently operates more than 2,300 public charging points across the UK.
“We’re proud to be supporting the region in expanding access to reliable and accessible EV charging across the region. This partnership builds on the foundations already delivered through the ChargePlace Scotland network and will help support the transition to electric vehicles across Ayrshire’s urban, rural and island communities,” said Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ.
Stephen Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, said the government funding would support the installation of more than 600 chargers and help local authorities attract private investment through partnerships with the charging industry.
Believ Expands Local Authority Charging Contracts
The Ayrshire agreement follows other large-scale public charging projects awarded to Believ.
In June, Hampshire County Council selected the company to deploy 17,180 public charging points under a contract supported by the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme. The project was described at the time as the UK’s largest LEVI-backed charging contract.
Believ’s wider expansion plans are supported by a £300 million investment announced in 2025. The company said the funding would support the installation of at least 30,000 additional public charging points across the UK.
The Ayrshire project adds to Believ’s planned network expansion and will place new charging infrastructure across three council areas, including locations where public charging provision may be more difficult to establish.
