A project exploring ways to accelerate the use of electric cars in Orkney is entering a new phase.
Through the Orkney’s Electric Future initiative, experts will assess the potential to boost consumption of locally generated renewable energy through charging the batteries of electric vehicles (EVs).
A public event will take place at 6pm on Monday in Kirkwall’s Pickaquoy Centre for people to find out more and why an increase in their use could benefit the island.
Orkney Islands Council has been awarded funding from the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation’s Smart Accelerator programme for a feasibility study and implementation plan for a large-scale demonstration project.
This is being led by Newcastle-based sustainability consultants Urban Foresight, Stromness environmental consultants Aquatera and Robert Gordon University.
At Monday’s event, Urban Foresight managing director Dr David Beeton will highlight lessons from projects from around the world.
The event will be chaired by leading rural transport expert professor David Gray and local people will be invited to contribute to the discussion.
Gavin Barr, Orkney Islands Council’s executive director of development and infrastructure, said: “Electric vehicles are already an increasingly common sight on local roads.
“Orkney’s Electric Future is aimed at encouraging a further uptake in numbers of EVs, reducing consumption of fossil fuels and raising demand for something our islands have in abundance – locally-generated renewable energy.”