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Nissan is to fund the
installation of Lincoln’s first
public electric vehicle charging
point, following the recent
Top Gear feature which
highlighted the lack of charging
infrastructure in the East
Midlands city.
In
the television programme,
presenters Jeremy Clarkson and
James May drove a pair of
electric vehicles, including the
Nissan LEAF, into the centre of
Lincoln in an attempt to find
somewhere to charge their cars.
Having failed to find any public
infrastructure the pair were
forced to charge at the
University in the centre of the
city, dangling cables through an
open window.
Should the presenters choose to
attempt the journey again in
future, they will discover a
newly-installed PodPoint
charging unit dedicated to them.
With two sockets, it would allow
both Jeremy and James to
recharge their batteries at the
same time.
Charging will be free of charge
to electric vehicle owners.
Councillor Fay Smith, Portfolio
Holder for Environmental
Services and Public Protection
at the City of Lincoln Council,
said: "The Top Gear
programme highlighted the fact
that Lincoln does not
currently provide for electric
cars and we're really pleased
that Nissan is now funding a
charging point. We're committed
to reducing the city's carbon
footprint, but know that we
can't do it alone, so it's great
that private businesses like
Nissan are getting behind this
and putting in the
infrastructure."
The PodPoint charging unit is
due to be installed before the
end of the month and the
presenters will be invited to
return to Lincoln and be the
first to plug in to the new
charger.
Top Gear Executive
Producer Andy Wilman said: "This
is excellent news for the
electric car community of
Lincoln. If the charging point
had existed when Top Gear
were there, James wouldn't now
be walking around with Jeremy's
name tattooed on his bottom.
Still, better late than never."
Nissan’s Executive Vice
President Andy Palmer said:
“Research tells us that most
LEAF owners will charge their
car at home or at their place of
work, but drivers like having
the ability to ‘top up’ their
charge when they are out and
about, especially if they are
making longer journeys. With its
new charging points and the fame
generated by Top Gear,
Lincoln could find itself
becoming a tourist destination
for Nissan LEAF owners.” |
