Your Opportunity to Access Scotland’s Rural & Island EV Charging Fund

If you’re a hospitality business, landowner or operator in a remote or rural corner of Scotland, there’s a major funding opportunity you should have on your radar…and fast. The Scottish Government has launched the Rural & Island Infrastructure Fund to support the installation of publicly accessible EV charging points in underserved areas, but the window to benefit from this is closing soon, and we’re here to help you unlock it.

 Why This Matters Now

• Scotland has set a target to install 24,000 additional public charging points by 2030.

• As of October 2024, Scotland had reached the earlier target of 6,000 publicly accessible charging points two years ahead of schedule!

• This fund began with an initial allocation of £4.5 million directed at rural and island locations where private investment is less likely.

In short: the funding is real, the ambition is big, and the window of opportunity is moving very fast.

Who’s Eligible and What It Covers

Eligibility Your site may qualify if:

• It’s a publicly accessible charging facility (not just for private use) that will appear on a public network map.

• The site is in an area classified by the Scottish Government’s Urban Rural Classification (URC) as categories 5, 6, 7 or 8, i.e. the more remote rural and island postcodes.

• You are a business, landowner, in such an area and can authorise works to be completed.

What the fund will pay for The funding is structured to reflect different levels of infrastructure complexity, so there’s something for modest sites up to ambitious, integrated systems. According to the published details:

• Up to £15,000 for a single/dual AC charge point (3.7-22 kW).

• Up to £30,000 for a single/dual low power DC charge point (20-49 kW).

• Up to £45,000 for a single/dual medium power DC charge point (50-124 kW).

• Up to £60,000 for a single/dual high power DC charge point (125-350 kW).

• Up to £300,000 for “innovative” projects that combine charge-points with energy storage alone, or energy storage and solar PV.

Two Streams of Funding

• Stream 1: Stand-alone AC or DC charge-points.

• Stream 2: Integrated systems (charging + storage or charging + storage + solar PV).

What This Means for Hotels, Remote Businesses & Landowners

If you run a hotel, guest house, tourist lodge, or other business in rural or island Scotland, this is a strategic moment. Here’s why:

• Offering publicly accessible charging can become a draw for EV-driving guests, especially in remote areas where charging options are thin.

• You can offset or fully recoup the infrastructure investment via the grant, reducing the financial risk of getting started.

• By entering early, you position yourself ahead of competitors and enhance your sustainability credentials.

• You align with a broader “just transition” agenda, ensuring that remote and island communities aren’t left behind. As the transport minister said: “That is where the Scottish Government steps in…to support fair access to charging for everyone in Scotland.”

Our Roadmap to Access Funding

We can support you with this process from start to finish and will work with you through the following stages:

1. Check your eligibility We'll confirm your postcode falls in URC categories 5–8. Ensure the proposed charger(s) will be publicly accessible and can be network mapped. We’ll then suggest if the right solution for you is to install a stand-alone system, or go for the integrated (storage/solar) option.

2. We will create your proposition and business case. We'll determine the type of charger(s) to install (AC vs DC, low/medium/high-power) and the level of funding available. Estimate the site usage, footfall of EV drivers, additional spend (e.g., café, guest rooms) and revenue/upside (if applicable).Align our solutions with your broader business strategy (tourism, hospitality, land-use, community service).

3. We’ll prepare the application and plan the delivery. We'll prepare quotes, technical specifications, and planning/installation path. We'll need to submit as quickly as possible: the fund is first-come, first-served, so timing matters.

4. Install, launch and promote. Once approved, we’ll coordinate the installation, testing, and commissioning.Promote your new facility: highlight on your website (“EV-friendly destination”), social media, local tourism boards, EV network maps. Leverage value: attract EV-drivers, generate additional business, increase dwell time, boost guest experience.

Why Acting Now Will Give You a Competitive Advantage

• Because the fund is limited, early movers stand a stronger chance of securing the highest funding brackets (e.g., up to £300k) and selecting prime locations.

• As more businesses install and public expectations of EV charging grow, your site becomes “charging ready” in a market where rural chargers are still scarce.

• The wider trend: urban charger networks are growing fast, but rural and island areas remain underserved. This fund is designed to bridge that gap, meaning you’re not just putting in a charger, you’re making your site part of the future infrastructure backbone.

Common Questions – Answered

Can it be installed for private use only? No. The funding requires the charge-points to be publicly accessible, not just for residents or private fleet use.

What if I’m outside URC 5–8? If your postcode falls outside categories 5–8, unfortunately, you won’t be eligible under this scheme. However, we'll help you explore other funding sources or private investment models.

Does the grant cover 100% of cost? Not necessarily. The grant offers up to the stated amounts (e.g. £60k for high power DC). If done privately you’d need to cover the remainder or demonstrate the viability of the project, Go Zero will help with this and likely cover the differences.

When does the application close? It’s first come, first served and may close once funding is exhausted. So, moving quickly is in your interest.

How Go Zero can help

We’re ready to support you through every step:

• We’ll help assess whether your site is eligible and estimate the funding bracket.

• We can configure the optimum charger specification for your site type (hotel, landowner, visitor facility).

• We’ll advise on the application paperwork, timelines and installation planning.

• We’ll assist with the commissioning, handover and messaging so you maximise guest/visitor uptake and business benefit.

If you’re operating in rural or island Scotland and want to secure a funded EV charging solution, let’s talk.

Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free eligibility check and site review.