Cities bid for £30 million electric car charging points

Lord Adonis, Secretary of Transport, announced that cities and businesses are invited to bid for the £30 million budget which is intended to install charging points for electric cars. The ‘Plugged-In Places’ initiative will support the installation of charging points on car parks, streets, and in commercial, retail and leisure facilities found across the UK.

The pro-environment project was praised by Edmund King, President of AA. He welcomed the government’s announcement, saying that it will make vehicles greener and will help speed up the low carbon revolution. At least six cities will be selected for the programme in line with the UK government’s target to make the country the hub for low carbon motoring.

In addition, the UK government is ready to provide subsidies of up to £2,000 for any individual who will purchase an electric automobile. A wide range of electricity-powered cars have already been tested in government-backed pilot schemes to check if the technology can be adapted to the UK mass market.

But the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) had earlier warned that electric vehicles could increase carbon gas emissions because of the power source being used in charging the vehicles. Endorsing ETA’s caution, Richard Dyer, Transport Campaigner of Friends of the Earth, also stressed that the electricity that powers the cars needs to be pro-environment.

Dyer criticized the UK’s renewable energy supplies for being badly underdeveloped. He further urged ministers to quickly invest in renewable energy sources that are abundant in the country to ensure that electric cars make efficient use of green fuel.