The East of England has secured up to £2.9 million in funding for an electric vehicle network in the region. The EValu8 project – to install a major network of electric charging points across the region – won the funding through the government’s ‘plugged in places’ initiative.
Retail outlets, public car parks, railways stations, local businesses and residential streets will be prime locations for plug-in points across the region focused in hot-spots in Bedford, Luton, Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Thames Gateway South Essex and Stansted Airport.
EValu8 will link-up with existing projects to provide an integrated network of plug-in points stretching from London to the north Norfolk coast, and from Milton Keynes to Felixstowe. By the end of 2013, all local businesses and residents in the region will be no more than 25 miles away from a recharging post. Transport secretary Philip Hammond said: "Government action to support affordable vehicles and more local charging points means we are on the threshold of an exciting green revolution - 2011 could be remembered as the year the electric car took off.” Projects in the Midlands, Greater Manchester, Scotland and Northern Ireland were also given the government go-ahead.
