Electric vehicle drivers in Dundee will be able to park for free in council car parks as part of the city’s Go Ultra Low Cities plans.
After registering with the council, drivers will have free use of the multi-storey car parks, and will also be added to the permit scheme for the other surface level sites.
Will Dawson convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “Free car parking for electric vehicles was part of our commitment to the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) under our Go Ultra Low Scheme launched earlier this year.
“Free parking in Dundee can now be added to the growing list of environmental and social benefits of owning an electric vehicle in the city and I’m sure the scheme will prove popular. The funding for this initiative will be covered through the Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme.”
UK Transport Minister John Hayes said: “More drivers than ever are choosing electric vehicles – which are cleaner, greener and cheaper to run and Dundee City Council’s electric vehicle free parking scheme is an innovative way of rewarding motorists who have switched to electric vehicles.
“We want nearly all cars and vans to be zero emission by 2050. The transition to zero emission vehicles will improve urban air quality for all.
Poppy Welch, Head of Go Ultra Low, said: “The Go Ultra Low Cities scheme aims to present the benefits of electric cars to drivers through innovative schemes such as Dundee’s new free parking initiative.
“The cost-saving benefits of driving an electric car soon begin to add up when considering free parking alongside low running costs, tax-saving advantages and the minimal maintenance costs of plug-in vehicle ownership.”
Once signed up the car’s registration number will be put into the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system to enable the barrier to lift on arrival and departure, along with the council’s permit scheme.
Electric vehicles will be given free parking in all bays, not only those used for recharging. While hybrids are not eligible for the scheme, owners will still be able to plug in and recharge for free when parked at a designated charging bay.
This scheme will go live on Monday 5th December.
Find EV charging points in Dundee on Zapmap.
