Demand for EV charging stations skyrockets in Scotland, searches up 421% outpacing rest of UK

Newly released internet search data analysed by West Country Electrical Services - https://www.westcountryelec.com/ reveals that searches for EV charging stations in Scotland have soared by an impressive 421% from 2021 to 2023 — the highest increase across the United Kingdom.

• Scotland 421%
• Northern Ireland 400%
• England 395%
• Wales 340%

Scotland recorded the highest increase at 421%, England was third at 395%. Wales, while seeing the smallest growth, still experienced a substantial rise of 340%.

Looking at city-specific data within Scotland, Stirling saw a remarkable 550% increase in searches for EV charging stations, the highest in the country. Inverness followed with a 425% rise, and Aberdeen came in third with a 357% increase.

• Stirling 550%
• Inverness 425%
• Aberdeen 357%
• Edinburgh 319%
• Glasgow 125%
• Dundee 120%

Dundee, at the bottom of the list, still showed a notable rise of 120%.

The demand for EV charging stations, as evidenced by online search volume, exceeds the availability of public charging infrastructure. In 2023, nearly 10,000 searches were recorded based on average monthly figures, while the latest data from Zapmap indicates that only 5,886 public charge points are currently available in Scotland.

Speaking on the findings, Ed Fuller from West Country Electrical Services - https://www.westcountryelec.com/ who conducted the research said “The sharp increase in searches for EV charging stations, especially in Scotland, reflects the growing demand for infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles.

“This research highlights how urgently people are seeking charging solutions. The trend we see in this data emphasizes the need for faster expansion of public charging networks to keep pace with consumer interest and adoption of electric vehicles, particularly as Scotland continues to lead the way in the UK.”