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Episode 151: Liz Allan and Gemma Robinson - Transforming EV Infrastructure Across Scotland’s Highlands and Islands.
Liz Allan speaks to Gemma Robinson, EV Project Manager at HITRANS (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership), to explore the fascinating journey from Scotland's pioneering Charge Place Scotland network to the future of EV infrastructure in remote communities.

They discuss the unique challenges of building reliable charging networks in some of the UK's most remote locations, where geography, connectivity issues, and high energy costs create complex obstacles. They also explore the maintenance challenges facing the current Charge Place Scotland network, the collaborative approach HITRANS is taking with councils across Scotland's islands and Highlands, and how Full Circle CI's maintenance deep dive methodology transformed instinctive concerns into actionable data, enabling productive conversations with service providers and a roadmap for improvement. Gemma and Liz provide valuable insights for any local authority navigating the EV infrastructure transition, as well as how lessons learned can benefit councils across the UK who are just beginning their EV infrastructure journey.

Quote of the Episode:
"I would like a bigger voice for some of the rural and remote communities and a recognition that they need to do things differently for it to work in their communities. And I would also like to have the opportunity to make the choices that protect that nature for the future." - Gemma Robinson.

Gemma Robinson Bio:
Gemma Robinson is the EV Project Manager at HITRANS, where she leads EV infrastructure strategy development for four Scottish councils, including Shetland, Western Isles, and Argyll and Bute, through the EVIF program. Her remarkable career path took her from product design graduate to primary school teacher specialising in special educational needs, then to co-founding Highland Teepees, a successful event business she ran for seven years across Scotland's private estates. After selling the company and briefly relocating to Yorkshire, Gemma returned to Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic and transitioned into transport, bringing her project management expertise to the challenge of coordinating charging network development across Scotland's most remote communities.

Gemma Robinson Links:
HITRANS Website:

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