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Transport secretary launches vehicle charging network

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis visited Newcastle on Friday to officially launch the NewcastleGateshead Advanced Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Programme.

Lord Adonis paid a visit to Newcastle Civic Centre to inspect the first of 40 charging points for electric vehicles that will be installed on Tyneside in a range of locations, such as public buildings, retail centres and on the roadside.

Regional Development Agency One North East has just installed two charging posts in its head office car park in Newcastle, and is currently awaiting delivery of a further 29 posts, which will be installed by Newcastle Council.

This pilot is the first phase of a charging network in the North East, which is becoming established as a world-leading location for the development and demonstration of electric vehicles and contains the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles.

Lord Adonis said: “As the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area focused on ultra low carbon vehicles, the North East has a real opportunity to lead the way in the low-carbon revolution. I want other regions to take their lead from the North East, who are addressing all aspects of the electric vehicle jigsaw, to make the electric car a real option for motorists.”

In the coming months the infrastructure will be used for major vehicle trials by CENEX, the UK’s low carbon vehicle centre of excellence; the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, and the Technology Strategy Board’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator project.

One North East Chief Executive Alan Clarke said: “We are delighted to welcome the Transport Secretary to the region today. The network of charging points in North East England will help us convince drivers that electric vehicles are not a futuristic vision. The low carbon vehicle sector is rapidly becoming a genuinely realistic alternative to traditional transport and is already creating green-collar jobs in our region.”

Sarah Green, Regional Director, CBI North East, said: “This is a critical milestone in our journey to be an electric vehicle global centre of excellence. We need to ensure that we continue the roll-out of infrastructure quickly across the region, to give consumers the confidence to convert to electric vehicles once they hit the mass market.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .