We all agree Our Fife Matters and that we must all work together to find a solution to the climate emergency.
Along with our partners, we’re committed to doing everything we can to help create a safer and cleaner environment, including continuing to invest in greener travel options. eFife is a project that supports Fife's electric vehicle network - from the vehicles and charging points to promoting the benefits of Electric Vehicles (EV).
In support of the EV transition, the public sector in Scotland has led the provision of charging infrastructure. Since 2013, Transport Scotland have invested in a national base network of charge points named ChargePlace Scotland. The aim is to make EV charging accessible for all.
Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) has published advice: All you need to know about electric vehicles - Energy Saving Trust. It has all the current information on buying an EV and any grants available.
In January 2022, the Scottish Government published its draft vision for Scotland's Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network, with the planned launch of a new £60 million fund for local authorities over four years. It's anticipated that half of the funding will be from the private sector.
The council has received some of this fund to develop an EV Strategy for Fife. This will, in turn, allow us to access further funding to support expanding the EV network. The Executive summary for the EV Strategy for Fife proposal will give you more information.
A draft copy of the EV Strategy is also available (this is subject to Committee approval).
We have a list of proposed EV charging sites, as well as ones we currently have, for information.
Businesses can benefit too!
We also have a fleet of EVs, which staff can use when they’re on official council business. Using these vehicles helps reduce our CO2 emissions and minimise air pollution. It also means that, as an organisation, we use less diesel as fuel.
The main financial benefits for employers include:
- Low company car tax (or associated Employer National Insurance Contributions)
- 100 per cent First Year Allowance* (FYA) – meaning organisations can offset the whole purchase cost against taxable profits in the first year
- UK Government Grant - applied directly at dealerships, a discount of 35% (up to a maximum of £3,500) of the price of a new EV is currently available. For electric vans, it’s 20% (up to a maximum of £8,000). For more info, visit the UK Government website
- Interest-free loans of up to £120,000, funded by Transport Scotland, are available to Scottish businesses to help lower their transport and travel costs.
- Funding to install a charge point at your business
*Only businesses not taking advantage of the UK Plug-in Grants are eligible for FYA
Have a look at these other websites to see how your business could benefit from going electric!
Back To TopFife Council maintains a network of EV charging points throughout the Kingdom, available for public use.
We have three different types of charging points:
- 50kW Siemens and eVolt Rapid chargers
- 22 kW eVolt fast chargers
- 7kW eVolt and trickle chargers
There are over 40 public EV charging points across Fife. These are mainly at long-stay car parks in town centres, and at public transport interchanges such as railway stations and park & rides. We will continue to expand the number of EV charging points.
Fife Council has rapid chargers at:
- Petheram Bridge car park, St Andrews
- Halbeath Park and Ride – 2
- Halbeath Depot
- Bankhead Central, Glenrothes - 2
- Glasswork St car park, Kirkcaldy
A map of ALL charging point types, locations and instructions can be found on the ChargePlace Scotland website.
Back To TopThere is no connection fee when charging your car. The tariffs for the three types of EV charging infrastructure on the eFife network are:
- Slow charger (7kW), £0.40/kWh
- Fast charger (22kW), £0.40/kWh
- Rapid charger - all three cables (50kW), £0.60/kWh. This applies to both DC cables and AC cable. £10 overstay fee applies after 1 hour - again, this applies to both DC cables and AC cable.
When charging your vehicle, you do not need to purchase a parking ticket.
Please note: The EV bays are for charging EVs only. Your EV must be connected to the charge point and a charging session in progress to use these bays.
You will need to pay for parking when parking in a paid car park as normal.
Back To TopTo access the network and start charging your EV, simply register for a ChargePlace Scotland account and order an access card by putting a cross in the appropriate box. There is a one-off fee of £12 for this card, which will be added to your account. Once your access card arrives, you can then use it to charge your EV at any charge point displayed on our live map. We do recommend ordering an RFID card, due to the remote location of some chargers impacting phone signal for app use.
The ChargePlace Scotland website and mobile app allow EV drivers to manage their accounts, start and stop charges, and access information about the charging network. They also provide 24/7 telephone support and email support for both drivers and the charge point owners, as well as a social media presence.
Accessing the network - Charge Place Scotland
For 7 kW and 22kW eVolt chargers - to charge a vehicle:
- Check that the doors on the charge points are closed. If you plug your cable into an already open point, then you risk getting your cable stuck.
- Begin by plugging your cable into your vehicle.
- Place and hold the Access Card over the reader.
- The available socket door will be released at the front of the charging unit.
- Place your plug into the socket and make sure that the plug is in correctly (otherwise it won’t charge your vehicle).
- The lights will change colour from green to blue on the corresponding socket to indicate that charging has started.
To stop charging:
- Place and hold the Access Card over the reader.
- The display will change, and the charger will release the cable.
- Remove the plug and close the socket door.
- Unplug the cable from the car, close the flap on the vehicle and stow the cable in the vehicle.
You can report a fault, or a stuck cable, by calling chargeplacescotland.org on 0141 648 0750.
Back To TopUnless within a Conservation Area or where a building is a Listed Building, Planning permission is not usually needed for the installation of wall-mounted EV charging points. This should be in areas lawfully used for off-street parking and providing certain conditions are met.
For more information, please contact us via our Get in touch with the planning team online form.
Electric vehicle owners who have their own driveway can install a charging point at home, within their boundary.
Under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, it is not permitted to place an obstruction, including but not limited to, a cable or wire, over, along or across a public road or footway without the permission of the Roads Authority.
The Council, in its capacity as Roads Authority, does not permit the trailing of cables across a footway or road for the purpose of charging a vehicle, even if it’s within in a cable protector. To do so may be hazardous to pedestrians, particularly if they have a disability, and is an offence under the above Act.
If you wish to report trailing cables or other footway obstructions, you can do so by emailing Transportation.Services@Fife.gov.uk
Back To TopRemember, it's good to share, so don't stay at a charger for longer than you need to charge, especially a rapid charger. And don't park an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car in an EV parking bay!
An Etiquette Guide on using Electric Vehicle Charge Points is available from ChargePlace Scotland.
To find out more about all things relating to Electric Vehicles and charging points, the EV Association Scotland has lots of information.
For further information contact us by email: travel.plan@fife.gov.uk
Please note that parking bays with EV charging points are for charging only, not parking. Any non EV or an EV not connected to the charge point will be liable to a Penalty Charge Notice.
