Drivers in East Lothian are being encouraged to charge electric vehicles 'off-peak' with new premium rates being introduced to try and reduce demand.
East Lothian Council is set to introduce a trial of higher fees for motorists who use their chargers during 'peak' hours between 4pm and 8pm from next month.
On street bollard chargers and those operated through Fuuse and Connected Kerb networks already offer two rates depending on when they are used.
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Now the local authority is extending the peak -hour rates to around a dozen of its main chargers - including the ones at its own headquarters in Haddington - which are Chargeplace Scotland which oversees the vast majority of the council's 140 chargers.
The council said the move reflects the "carbon intensity of the electricity grid" between the peak hours of the day.
It said: "We are extending the use of peak/off-peak pricing to encourage people to charge their vehicle outwith the 4-8pm period when demand for electricity is greatest.
"These are the times when wind, hydro and solar power are most likely to be supplemented with nuclear, or by imported carbon-intensive gas or coal-generated power."
In total 97, 544 kWh of power was drawn from the council's 109 chargers run by Chargeplace Scotland across East Lothian during January.
The operator says during the same month they received 52 reports of faults with the chargers when they were used 4,990 times by motorists.
The new peak rates will see prices go from 25p per kWh to 35p at destination chargers, 40p to 50p at Journey chargers and 50p to 60p per kWh at High Power journey chargers.
In total 12 chargers will initially trial the peak rate including six at John Muir House, Haddington, two at the park and ride at Wallyford, three in Tranent and one in Dunbar.
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