North Ayrshire will be receiving extra support to electrify motoring in Irvine.

North Ayrshire Council is among 10 local authorities across Scotland to receive in-depth support, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by the Energy Saving Trust.

The Programme for Government 2018/2019 outlined an ambition to deliver 20 electric towns before 2025 – in a bid to help facilitate a transformation in the uptake of plug-in electric vehicles in Scotland’s towns and cities.

Currently there are around 21 charging points across North Ayrshire, with the council saying there is a clear appetite for electrified driving.

North Ayrshire Council hopes the study can help realise the potential of EVs to mitigate against levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulates within their urban environments, helping to improve air quality and public health.

Councillor Alex Gallagher, Cabinet Member for Economy, said “We are delighted to receive this support and look forward to working with the Energy Saving Trust to see how we can develop our EV infrastructure further.

“Across North Ayrshire there are currently 21 EV charging points. There is an appetite for electric vehicles and this work aims to facilitate a step change in their uptake.

“The council is committed to the environment and this work will contribute to the delivery of our Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “Working in partnership with local authorities, we will provide support to further develop our already comprehensive charging network.

“By increasing the availability of charging infrastructure and further incentivising the use of electric vehicles, we hope to see continued growth in the number of users.”