Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Frequently Asked Questions

Tariffs

When did The Highland Council introduce tariffs for the use of electric vehicle charging points?

The Highland Council EV charging tariffs were initially introduced on the 1st June 2021. A tariff increase was approved at the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on the 2nd February 2023. View a copy of the report here. The tariff increase became effective from the 1st March 2023.

What are the current tariffs for using the council’s electric vehicle charging points?

The current Highland Council tariff information can be found here. The current rate is 35p/kWh for using Destination chargers and 70p/kWh for using Journey chargers. There is a minimum £1 charge on all EV charge points. A £1/minute overstay charge is also applied on Journey chargers when you are connected for longer than 45 minutes (and 15-minute grace period), up to a maximum of £30. All sockets on a Journey charger are subject to the overstay charge.

How often is the tariff reviewed?

As part of the approval of the tariff increase, this will be reviewed on a monthly basis to ensure consistency with current market conditions. It is essential that you check the current tariffs on our website or Charge Place Scotland’s website or phone/tablet app before using it.

Overstay charges

Is there a restriction on how long I can charge my car?

Yes, there is an overstay fee applied when using Journey chargers. There is a time limit of 45 minutes plus 15 minutes grace period, thereafter £1 per minute will be charged.

There is no maximum stay on Destination chargers, however, as a matter of courtesy, we would encourage users to vacate the charging bay as soon as possible after charging is complete to allow other users to access the charger.

Often a Journey charger has both 22kW and 50kW sockets, if I use the 22kW socket what is the tariff rate and does the overstay charge apply?

All sockets on a Journey charger are subject to the Journey charger tariff structure. All sockets are subject to the overstay charge which is automatically applied to the user’s account. See the Highland Council tariff information webpage for further details.

Why is an overstay charge applied to the Journey chargers?

My vehicle takes longer than 45 minutes to charge using a Journey charger, can I stay longer to get a full charge without getting an overstay charge?

The purpose of Journey charger is to provide a rapid, “top-up” charge for those on a journey and is not intended to be used to achieve full charge on any vehicle. This is reflected in the tariff structure by implementing a maximum stay period of 45 minutes, which helps to maximise the charge point utilisation and overall availability of the network. According to the EVAS, one of the most frequent complaints received is that cars are left on these units for long periods, impeding charging for others, hence the need to establish and encourage behaviours that support the wider community. The Destination charge point is intended to be for regular charging so that vehicles can connect over a longer period of time at a lower charging speed on a lower tariff. There is currently no maximum stay period applied while using Destination charge points.

I have paid to use a Journey charger and the output is less than the rating shown (eg. 43kW), can I stay longer to obtain a full charge without incurring an overstay charge?

There will be times due to technical issues or vehicle capacity that means the output will be less that the rating shown. In these circumstances, you will be charged for the energy used. The overstay charge will also be automatically applied to the users account after a total of 60 minutes, and this is non-refundable.

I have incurred an overstay charge due to unforeseen circumstances, can the overstay charge be refunded?

We appreciate that users may encounter an unforeseen circumstance that means the maximum 60 minutes is exceeded. However, we are unable to consider every individual case, and as such the overstay charge would not be refunded.

If a Destination charge is broken or unavailable, can I stay longer on a Journey charger to get a full charge?

No. The maximum stay on a Journey charger is 60 minutes (45 minutes, with a 15-minute grace period), after that an overstay charge of £1 per minute will automatically be applied to the user's account. See the Highland Council tariff information webpage for further details.

Someone has damaged the signage on the charger, and I was unable to see the tariff or the overstay charge information. Can my overstay charge be refunded?

No. Before using a charger, it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that they are aware of the tariffs and any other charges before use, as they can vary significantly between providers. Information on the Council’s tariffs and overstay charges can be found on the Highland Council tariff information webpage and on Charge Place Scotland’s website and phone/ tablet app. The Highland Council may provide additional signage on the face of the charger. Regrettably, vandalism does occur, however we are unable to check on-site signing daily. In these circumstances, the overstay charge would not be refunded.

Payment

Can I use contactless payment?

In addition to the usual payment methods, it is also possible to pay for charging at our Journey Chargers using contactless payment with credit or debit card. The contactless payment terminal is found on the charger, just below the screen. The Destination chargers do not currently have a contactless payment facility.

While contactless payment makes it easier to charge up across the country, there are a few points to bear in mind:

Upon presentation of a contactless debit or credit card, a pre-authorisation amount is reserved on your card, but not taken from your account. This is then replaced with the actual charge amount and this is usually at the end of the charging session. Occasionally (and this depends on your bank) this may take up to two working days.

In the unlikely instance of a failed charge, it can also take up to 2 working days for the pre-authorisation amount to disappear.

Do I have to pay for parking when charging my EV?

No, you do not need to pay for a parking ticket in addition to paying the tariff when charging your EV. However, you must vacate the bay once your charging session is over.

Reporting faults

How do I report an issue with one of the electric vehicle chargers?

All issues should be reported to Charge Place Scotland using their online form or calling 0141 648 0750 quoting the unique number on the unit.

Signage

There are no signs placed on site to tell me what the tariffs and overstay charges are.

Before using a charger, it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that they are aware of the tariffs and any other charges before use, as they can vary significantly between providers. Information on the Council’s tariffs and overstay charges can be found on the Highland Council tariff information webpage and on Charge Place Scotland’s website and phone/ tablet app. The Highland Council may provide additional signage on the face of the charger.

Someone has damaged the signage on the charger, and I am unable to see the tariffs or overstay charge, can this be fixed?

Damage to the signage should be reported to EVManagement@highland.gov.uk quoting the charger Identification number and location.

Other Charge Points & Maps

Yes, there are other charge points in the Highlands. Please visit Charge Place Scotland , Zap Map or Plug Share for an interactive map and live updates of available charge points.

For specific EV related queries, please visit Charge Place Scotland Help and Advice.

Suggested Sites

If you have already searched on the Charge Place Scotland map, and feel there is still opportunity for another EV charger in your area, we ask that you send your site suggestion to EVManagement@highland.gov.uk.

All charge points have previously been fully-funded externally, however this funding has now concluded. We are unable to commit to developing any new EV charging sites, although we are hoping to explore alternative funding routes. We are unable to anticipate what level of funding may be available, and whether any conditions may be applied to this funding.

We consider a range of factors when identifying the type and location of an EV Charger, including land availability, adequate power supply and strategic location. We have deliberately tried to match the speed of the charger to the type of location. Eg. Journey Chargers (43kW+) are in high turnover locations or beside strategic routes, and Destination Chargers (22kW or less) are in longer stay car parks where people are likely to be leaving their car for longer periods.

If you wish to suggest a site to have an EV charger installed by us, email EVManagement@highland.gov.uk. We can add this to a list of potential sites but cannot guarantee that this will go ahead until after undertaking feasibility studies.

Further information on electric vehicles (EVs) including:

what an EV is
types of EVs available
benefits of EVs
financial assistance available for EVs

can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.

Advice on charging electric vehicles whether at home or using public charger including:

indicative costs associated with EV charging
types of charge points available