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Private sector to set up electric car network in North East England

Private sector companies are joining forces to develop an electric vehicle network in the North East of England.

Companies including Tesco, British Gas, CE Electric UK, the AA and Capital Shopping Centres are working with regional development agency, One North East, to install 750 charging points across the region and promote the use of electric vehicles.

The first 40 charging points are already being installed in Newcastle and Gateshead, with the remaining to follow between 2010 and 2011. Tesco will also be installing points at selected supermarkets in the region.

British Gas will take responsibility for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and will also use its fleet management team to evaluate the pilot programme.

“The North East electric car strategy has the potential to spark a personal transport revolution in UK cities,” commented Edmund King, president of the AA.

The North East has been designated one of the Government’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator areas. The £10.7 million project means that 35 electric vehicles will be developed in the region, including 15 Nissans, two Liberty electric Range Rovers, two AVID saloon cars, and electric taxis, people carriers and a minibus from Smith.

Through this initiative and another £30 million project, One North East hopes to develop an electric car industry in the region.

“We want the North East to be showing the rest of the world how best to develop a comprehensive infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles,” says Chris Pywell of One North East.

For further information:
www.onenortheast.co.uk/
www.liberty-ecars.com/
www.nissan.co.uk/
www.avidvehicles.com/
www.smithelectricvehicles.com/

02 July 2009

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