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The UK’s streets and car
parks could see thousands more
charging points for electric and
plug-in hybrid cars thanks to
£30 million of Government
funding.
Transport
Secretary Andrew Adonis today invited cities and businesses to join
together to bid for the money which will help fund the installation of
charging points on streets, car parks and in commercial, retail and
leisure facilities.
This initiative –
called Plugged-In Places – will support the development of between three
and six electric car cities and regions across the UK which will act as
trailblazers for electric car technology. The experiences of these
locations will inform the future development of a national charging
infrastructure.
Overall, the
Government is investing around £400m to encourage the development,
manufacture and use of next generation ultra-low carbon vehicles.
Delivered by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles this support is being
targeted to create new jobs in a low carbon automotive sector and to cut
carbon from UK road transport.
Transport
Secretary Andrew Adonis said:
"The UK can be a
world leader in electric and low carbon cars which is why the Government
has already committed around £400 million of support to encourage
development and uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles.
“Our aim is for
electric and low carbon cars to be an everyday feature of life on UK’s
roads in less than five years. There is still a lot of work to be done,
however Plugged-In Places is one very significant step putting us firmly
on the path to a low carbon future."
Encouraging
companies to get involved, Business Minister Pat McFadden said:
“The move to lower-carbon forms of
transport is a turning point for the automotive industry, opening up new
opportunities for existing UK automotive companies and with the
potential to create new jobs and new industries, for example around the
charging infrastructure.
“I urge British
companies to get involved and seize these new opportunities for growth
and jobs.
“Our aim is for
Britain to become a global centre for low carbon transport development,
manufacturing and delivery - the Government is backing businesses who
want to help make this happen.”
The total number
and location of charging infrastructure supported by this initiative
will depend on local plans and requirements. The intention is that
successful applicants will match the Government's investment.
These plans build
on existing measures to support alternative fuels and today the
Government is announcing the seven schemes that will benefit from
£500,000 of funding through the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant
Programme. These schemes will see the provision of 72 electric charging
points and four gas refuelling stations in areas across England.
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