A couple explore the forest and hillside around Cairn O'Mount
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
Where can I hire an electric car?
Enterprise offers the largest fleet of rental EV cars in Scotland.
Find the nearest Enterprise location near you
What are the benefits to driving an EV in Scotland?
The biggest advantage is their reduced impact on the environment. Unlike fossil fuel powered cars, electric cars are powered by rechargeable electric batteries which don’t produce exhaust fumes. This reduces air pollution, especially in congested areas.
They’re also much quieter and help combat noise pollution.
What's the difference between an EV and plug-in hybrid car?
An electric car runs solely on an electric battery. A plug-in hybrid car has both an electric battery and a gas engine. In short, you have access to an alternative power source when one runs out. It’s a great option if you’re planning to do a lot of long-distance driving – especially in more remote areas.
Are electric cars cost-effective to run?
Electric cars are considerably cheaper to run than the typical gas or diesel car. Depending on the energy supplier tariff and if it’s charged during peak or off-peak times, it can cost as little as £1.30 to drive 100 miles (161 km).
How far can I drive an EV before topping up the battery?
Depending on the model of your electric car, on average you can expect to drive between 150-300 miles (240-483 km) before having to recharge your vehicle.
A plug-in hybrid will drive from 10-50 miles (16-80 km) using electricity before switching to diesel or petrol.
Depending on how much driving you do on holiday, you might not even need to recharge your EV.
Charging point outside Poolewe House
How do I find a charging station?
ChargePlace Scotland is the country’s national EV charging network and currently offers 2,286 charging points across the country. New charge points are always being added but always check the distance between charging points, availability and type before setting off. The time to charge can vary depending on the station. You can see the location and status of all the chargers on the live map.
Carwow have an interactive Electric Car charging point map to help EV and hybrid car owners find their nearest charging point. Zap Map is another great resource. It also has a live map and an app.
You can also usually find charging stations in service stations. Companies like Tesla operate their own Supercharger stations which you can find using their customised apps.
How do I charge an electric car?
Charging your electric car is straightforward. Simply unplug the connector from the station and insert it into the port to start charging.
At some stations, you may have to activate them first using the app provided by the car manufacturer or with a contactless bank or credit card, or an RFID card (Radio Frequency Identity Card).
Many vehicles will also come with their own portable three-pin plug and attached lead which can be connected to a household electrical supply.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
The time it takes to charge an electric car depends on the size of the battery and the power your charger is putting out. You can use the following formula to calculate how long it will take the vehicle you intend to use to charge.
Battery size (kWh) ÷ actual charging power (kW) = Charging time (hours)
Some slower chargers can usually be done overnight, while fast or ultra chargers can take anything between 15 - 60 minutes; however, this varies depending on multiple factors such as battery size and the charger, but check this against the above calculation. Costs can also vary depending on the supplier, with faster chargers being more expensive, home charging is usually the cheapest route depending on your tariff. Always check with your supplier or an EV expert to help meet your needs.
How easy is it for international visitors to use and pay for EV charging points?
Most public charging points can be found via Zapmap. By clicking on one of the charging points on the map, you can get information about the exact address, type of connector, availability, pricing information and much more. We recommend downloading the app before your trip to Scotland to help familiarise yourself with how it works.
International visitors to Scotland can start charging their EV vehicle with ChargePlace Scotland without having an account, app or RFID card. Pay for your charging session via ChargePlace Scotland’s Webpay and watch the step-by-step video on how to use Webpay with a ChargePlace Scotland charge point.
Once you have charged your electric vehicle, you will have to pay for the purchased amount of kWh’s (kilowatt-hours). Most charging points will accept contactless which you can pay with your credit or debit card, mobile or Apple Watch.
Where can I learn to drive an electric car?
Get to grips with rapidly evolving new car technology at the Arnold Clark Innovation Centre.
The car dealership has two centres – one in Glasgow and another in Stafford, England.
Learn everything about driving, charging, and getting the most out of your alternative fuel vehicle. You can even take a tailored test drive so you can be confident the next time you get behind the wheel.
Book an appointment to get started.
