Four UK cities have each been awarded a share of £40m in funding today to promote the take-up of plug-in electric cars as part of a government scheme to cut air pollution in urban hotspots and slash carbon emissions.
The four winners of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme - Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London - were selected based on their city-specific plans to encourage local residents to switch to EVs.
Each city will use their share of the funding to build out the infrastructure needed for large-scale EV use, including introducing rapid charging hubs and street lamps that double up as charging stations. Other alterations will include allowing EVs to use dedicated bus lanes in city centres, and earmarking around 25,000 parking spaces for EV owners.
Announcing the funding, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the winning cities proposed "innovative" ideas to encourage the take-up of electric cars. "I want to see thousands more greener vehicles on our roads and I am proud to back this ambition with £40m to help the UK become international pioneers of emission-cutting technology," he said in a statement.
Under the scheme London will receive £13m to create its "Neighbourhoods of the future" scheme, which targets specific boroughs, including Hackney and Westminster, to drive EV adoption.
Milton Keynes will receive £9m to build an "Electric Vehicle Experience Centre" - billed as a one-stop shop for potential EV purchases - while Bristol was awarded £7m to create a four-week leasing scheme for people to try out EVs before making a purchase. Nottinghamshire and Derby will use its £6m funding to install 230 charge points and offer EV owners parking discounts around the area.
The funding spree follows roads minister Andrew Jones' speech last week in which he described the spread of EVs across the country as akin to the rollout of the internet in the 1990s. "The internet started small, as a niche interest, but then it snowballed, and now it's hard to imagine being without it," he said. "I think we are seeing a similar picture emerging for ultra-low emission vehicles in Britain today."
Jones said EV sales were "rocketing", pointing to figures released earlier this month from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which showed that the number of new cars eligible for the government Plug-in Car Grant scheme rose from 14,532 in to 28,188 last year, an increase of 94 per cent.
from Home - business_green http://ift.tt/1NuvKlJ
Advertisement
Sourced by "Home Hacks". Scouring and supporting the art of DIY home projects by sharing links and information provided by numerous active reputable DIY veterans and company's. Any projects you start please be of proper age, follow all required safety measures, and use the required protective equipment when handling any chemicals, power tools, or during any construction project. If you need advice regarding your next project we suggest visiting Contractor Talk.
