Support for electric car and bike app pilot

Support for electric car and bike app pilot to help explore South's nature and wildlife

A new app designed to provide information on South of Scotland charging points for electric cars and bikes - alongside details of beauty spots, walks and trails - has been launched. 

The app has been launched Electrek Explorer through a pilot Recharge in Nature initiative in the South of Scotland through a partnership with:

With funding from

Recharge in Nature initiative is part of the Destination Net Zero tourism investment - a £3.95million pledge to Scottish tourism in March 2021. It is one of 10 areas of priority within the Scottish Government’s £25m commitment to deliver the Tourism Taskforce recommendations and national programme for tourism recovery.

What does the app offer?

  • The app will help guide people along curated electric car and bike routes.
  • As a part of the wider programme, the team is creating a new e-bike data atlas in the South of Scotland to improve access and usability along cycle routes, which will highlight businesses and locations that are electric vehicle (EV) and e-bike friendly.
  • The pilot hopes to encourage active travel and make nature sites more accessible to all, as a part of the Just Transition.
  • It will also connect people with EV-friendly accommodation, local businesses, wildlife hotspots, walks, adventure activities, voluntourism and community groups.
  • The pilot hopes to minimise ‘range anxiety’ by providing integrated EV information alongside nature-based tourism information and route planning. Ultimately, this will support people in the use of low carbon travel options. 

Get involved

Electrek Explorer is encouraging anyone in the South of Scotland or interested in the project to email explorer@planetrewild.com if:

  • Want to be included as an EV-friendly business and displayed on the web app
  • You are interested in User Testing and informing the web app’s development
  • Have a nature-based Citizen Science or Voluntourism project in the South of Scotland that you would like to promote on the new web atlas

Elaine Ford, Director, Electrek Explorer

“This app shows new ways to engage with nature and explore a beautiful part of the country,” she said.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to help promote nature-based tourism, whilst accelerating the transition to low carbon, electric travel in the drive towards Net Zero.”

South of Scotland Enterprise’s Director of Net Zero, Dr Martin Valenti

“We are delighted to be supporting this nature-based tourism project being launched in the South of Scotland, which is part of the Destination Net Zero programme.

"As the economic and community development agency for the South, we are determined to help our region’s social enterprises, community organisations and businesses realise the opportunities which making the journey to Net Zero brings.”