EV charging in demand

There are over 200 EV charging points installed across Dumfries and Galloway, however these are primarily low power 7kW stations which take several hours to charge up vehicles.
A typical electric car (60kWh battery) takes just under eight hours to charge from empty-to-full with a 7kW charging point.
Meanwhile, you can add up to 100 miles of range in around 35 minutes with a 50kW rapid charger.
There have been repeated calls for more 50kW EV charging points to be put in place across the region, and the council leaders’ panel – comprising the leaders of each political group – are in favour of this.
A council plan 2024/25 delivery update report noted the need to prioritise fast EV chargers with reasonable time limits and that fast charging bays are desired for council car parks. However, there is still work to be done around infrastructure first.
Castle Douglas Councillor John Young said: “I’m pleased to see the recommendation to prioritise fast EV chargers.
“Could I ask that consideration be given to more fast chargers in rural areas?
“Although modern electrical vehicles have much greater range, on a frosty winter night with the lights and heaters on, you very quickly can drain your batteries.
“Slow chargers are absolutely no use to you if you’re travelling along rural distances.
“So, please could we have consideration for 50Kwh chargers in places like Dalry or Springholm, or on main routes that are not very well served with fast chargers at the moment. They tend to have the slow, overnight chargers of 7kwh.”
Nith Councillor David Slater said: “The problem we have with 50kwh chargers is that we don’t have enough the infrastructure in a lot of places.
“You need three phase electricity and 440 volts – that’s what we really need.
“If the infrastructure is not there we can only have 7kwh. And it takes six hours to charge a car – you need to drink a lot of coffee before you get your car charged!”
Council leader Gail Macgregor said: “Government and local authorities are looking at ways to get that infrastructure in place.
“I know it’s not relevant to the council plan today, but please be assured that we are trying to get those infrastructure links in place. Then the right investment for Dumfries and Galloway in the delivery of EV charging points.”