Peterborough could pioneer new electric vehicle recharging network

Peterborough could help pioneer latest developments in ultra-low carbon electric vehicles if a proposal to establish a regional network of recharging points receives government approval.

An East of England consortium, including Peterborough City Council, green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), other councils and local businesses, has been asked to develop a detailed business case for a £5.4 million network of recharging points.

It follows confirmation that the consortium’s initial ‘expression of interest’ in being part of a £30 million ‘Plugged in Places’ initiative has been shortlisted by the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

If chosen as one of the pilot projects, the East of England scheme would see around 500 charging points established in Peterborough, Bedford, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich, Luton, Thames Gateway and London Stansted airport within two years plus another 100 in the third year.

It would also mean that the East of England clusters would put electric vehicle drivers within range of charging points already established under a first phase scheme in London and Milton Keynes.

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has coordinated development of the proposal with support from more than 50 businesses and local authorities throughout the region. The scheme would provide charging posts at public, private and on-street parking locations, leisure and retail sites and transport interchanges.

It is hoped that the Plugged in Places project will stimulate faster development and adoption of electric vehicles and act as a catalyst in the development of new technologies, services and industries. For more information visit: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/olev.