Good news if you’re based in rural Scotland. The Energy Saving Trust has officially reopened the Rural and Island Infrastructure Fund, giving businesses another opportunity to install EV chargers with significant financial support.

If you missed out last time or weren’t quite ready, this is your second chance. And based on what we’ve seen from the previous round, it’s one worth taking seriously.

What is the Rural and Island Infrastructure Fund?

The fund is designed to support the rollout of EV charging infrastructure in rural and remote areas, where access is still limited.

In simple terms, it helps cover the upfront cost of installing chargepoints, making it far more viable for businesses that might otherwise hold off.

To apply, you’ll need:

• Quotes for the work being funded
• A completed project plan data sheet
• Proof of site ownership or permission to install

Applications are reviewed in around 15 working days, although this can take longer during busy periods.

One important point. If you’ve already started or completed the installation, you won’t be eligible. So timing matters.

What We Saw in the Previous Round

We worked with a number of sites across rural Scotland during the last round of funding. The pattern was clear. Once the barrier of upfront cost was reduced, businesses moved quickly and saw results just as fast.

Supporting Tourism in Remote Locations

One of our customers highlighted the direct impact on tourism:

“Being so rural, we feel we are now able to provide a public-access facility that may draw more tourism to the area and also give more drivers peace of mind that the infrastructure exists and having an EV does not limit your activity choices.”

That same site also called out the experience working with us:

“Voltshare post-installation support was second to none. Kerri-Lee is a star employee.”

For rural hospitality businesses, this is the key shift. EV charging is no longer just a ‘nice to have’. It’s becoming part of the decision-making process for guests choosing where to stay.

Turning Passing Traffic into Revenue

Another installation, a village hall on the NC500, is already seeing the benefit of high visibility and passing traffic:

“We are a small village hall on the NC500 and our charger is a great addition to the passing traffic. We are seeing increasing usage of the charger.”

They also summed up the process:

“The whole experience has been extremely well handled from the grant application to the final installation… any minor issues were easily solved.”

And importantly:

“We would definitely recommend you to other potential sites.”

This is where rural sites have a real advantage. Less competition, more reliance on available infrastructure, and a steady flow of drivers who need to charge.

Why Businesses Are Choosing voltshare

There are plenty of EV charging providers out there. The reason rural businesses tend to go with voltshare is simple. It fits how they operate.

• No monthly fees
  You only pay a small percentage when the charger is used
• Designed for variable demand
  Ideal for seasonal locations and quieter periods
• Full support from start to finish
  Including help with the grant process
• Ongoing support that actually responds
  As one customer put it, “post-installation support was second to none”

For businesses where demand isn’t constant, avoiding fixed costs makes a big difference.

Why You Should Act Now

This fund closed early last time, once allocations were used up. There’s no guarantee it will stay open for long this time either.

At the same time, EV adoption keeps rising. Drivers are actively looking for places where they can charge, especially in rural areas where options are limited.

That creates a window of opportunity. Install now while funding is available, and you position your business ahead of competitors who wait.

Next Steps

If you’re considering EV charging, now is the time to move.

We’ve already helped multiple rural sites through this process. We know what works, and we keep it straightforward.

If you want to explore it properly, get in touch with us and we’ll talk it through.