Introduction of tariffs

When did North Lanarkshire Council introduce tariffs for the use of electric vehicle charging points?

We approved the introduction of tariffs at the Environment and Climate Change Committee on the 9 November 2022 and the tariffs became effective from 4 January 2023.

Tariffs

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

The current rate is 40p/kwh for using standard and fast chargers and 70p/kwh for using rapid chargers, a £30 overstay connection charge is also applied on rapid chargers when you are connected for longer than 60 minutes.

How often are the charges reviewed?

Normally there would be an annual review of charges however, given the current market conditions costs are being reviewed continuously. It is essential that you check the current tariffs on our website or ChargePlace Scotland’s website or phone/tablet app before using it.

Overstay connection charges

The rapid charger has a 22kw and 50kw connector, if I use the 22kw connector is the charge 40p/kwh and would the overstay connection charge apply?

All connectors on the rapid charger are charged at 70p/kwh and are subject to the overstay connection charge which is automatically applied to the user’s account.

Why is an overstay connection charge applied to the rapid chargers?

The overstay connection charge is applied to ensure that there is a turnover of users created, and all users can get access to the chargers.

My vehicle takes longer than 60 minutes to charge using a rapid charger, can I stay longer to get a full charge without getting an overstay connection charge?

There will be times due to technical issues or vehicle capacity that mean a full charge is not possible within 60 minutes. If you exceed 60 minutes the overstay connection charge would be automatically applied to the users account and this is non-refundable.

I have paid to use a rapid charger and the output is less than the 50kw shown, can I stay longer to obtain a full charge without incurring an overstay connection charge?

There will be times due to technical issues or vehicle capacity that means the output will be less that the 50kw shown. In these circumstances, you will be charged for the energy used. The overstay connection charge will also be automatically applied to the users account after 60 minutes and this is non-refundable.

I have incurred an overstay charge due to unforeseen circumstances, can the overstay connection 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 the standard or fast chargers are broken, can I stay longer on the rapid charger to get a full charge?

The maximum stay on a rapid charger is 60 minutes, after that an overstay connection charge of £30 will automatically be applied to the user's account.

Someone has damaged the signing on the charger, and I was unable to see the tariffs or overstay connection charge can my overstay charge be refunded?

Regrettably, vandalism does occur, however we are unable to check on-site signing daily. All tariffs and overstay connection charges can also be found on the Council’s website or ChargePlace Scotland’s website or phone/tablet app and it is essential that you check this before using the charger. In these circumstances, the overstay connection charge would not be refunded.

Reporting faults

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

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

I damaged my cable using your electric vehicle charging point, can you reimburse the cost of a new cable?

The responsibility for the proper use of cables rests with the vehicle owner and the council are not liable for any damage that may have been caused.

Signing

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

Information on the tariffs and overstay connection charges is placed on the face of all chargers and this was done between 31 December 2022 and 2 January 2023 before the introduction of the tariffs.

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

Damage to the signing should be reported to EV@northlan.gov.uk quoting the charger Identification number.

Parking

Non electric vehicles are blocking the electric vehicle charging points, can action be taken to prevent this?

At the moment we do not have powers to prevent this from occurring, going forward we are considering the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders within our carparks to ensure that issues such as this can be enforced.

New Charge Points

Can I install a charger within my council owned property?

Before undertaking any work, you should complete the alteration to property request form, this can be obtained from your local housing office.

Can I get a charger in my area or street?

Given the significant number of EV users in North Lanarkshire, we can't accommodate the individual needs of these owners, therefore we try and ensure good geographic coverage of charge points. 

We unfortunately cannot respond to individual requests from residents or businesses for new chargers.

For Businesses or individual users without a dedicated parking space, an option may be to have a charge point installed at a workplace. Grants may be available for businesses from the Energy Saving Trust and more information can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.  Other grants and loans may also be available from the Office of Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) and Transport Scotland.

Enquiries regarding the installation of chargers at private communal carparks should be directed to the owner, landlord or factor of the site.  There is currently no funding available from the council for private installation.

Charging My Vehicle

I live in a flat - how do I charge my vehicle?

A list of publicly available charge points provided by the council and some other organisations can be found here. 

For users without a dedicated parking space, another option is to have a charge point installed at their workplace. Grants may be available for this from the Energy Saving Trust and more information can be found on the Energy Savings Trust website.

I have an EV charge point at my property, can I get permission to place the cable on the footway between my car and the charge point?

We currently do not permit charging cables to be laid across pavements as this could be a safety hazard.