Dundee’s bid to encourage the use of electric cars is being stymied because the council’s own vehicles use all the charging points, it has been claimed.
Electric car owner Jim McLeish claims charging points in the city are being over-used by the council’s fleet, leaving him “no chance” of finding a plug.
Mr McLeish has written to the council asking why their cars occupy the electric charge point spaces, even after they have “already finished charging.”
The Lochee resident is concerned the issue is not localised to his Sinclair Street bay, and notes the charging points at Olympia swimming pool and the Greenmarket car park are also facing the same problems.
Mr McLeish also notes that “inconsiderate” drivers of petrol and diesel cars are parking in bays designated for electric vehicles, and states this is the equivalent of an electric car driver “parking across the entrance of a fuel station”.
The council said Dundee is at the “forefront” of the use of electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure is in place.
The authority also recommended electric car drivers use the “rapid charger” available at the Dundee Ice Arena in Camperdown.
But a spokesman admitted there is an issue with charging spaces being occupied by non-electric vehicles that staff are working to address.
He said: “Because we have been recognised as being at the forefront of the charging infrastructure and use of electric vehicles we are continually developing and updating our policies.
“We are aware of the issue of charging bays being blocked by non-electric or fully charged electric vehicles and we are working to address it.
“Other charging bays are currently in development to help to alleviate the situation and the on-street charging bays in the city centre are limited to a three-hour maximum.
“Meanwhile drivers of electric vehicles can use the rapid charger at the Ice Arena or the Isla Street (203020 Plug Inn) chargers.”
Dundee City Council has more electric vehicles than any other local authority in Britain.
The use of electric vehicles by the council is part of a concerted effort to make Dundee more environmentally friendly.