Greater Manchester powering up for electric cars
Government advisers say Britain needs to have 1.7m electric vehicles on the road by 2020 if carbon cutting targets are to be met.
Car manufacturers, including Vauxhall, Nissan, Lotus and Jaguar Land Rover, are developing ultra low-carbon vehicles.
As of this year, motorists can claim for grants of up to £5,000 toward the cost of electric-powered cars, part of the Plugged-in Places programme run by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, which is currently funding a range of projects across the country to support the charging system.
Transport chiefs have already revealed the proposed location of more than 50 electric car charging points across the region.
Greater Manchester is aiming to become Britain’s electric-car capital – with a raft of charging points.
Transport chiefs have already revealed the proposed location of more than 50 electric car charging points across the region.
The first locations will include Chorlton, Withington, Northenden, Fallowfield and Rusholme district centres. Each bay will have enough space for two cars, which can park for up to three hours at a time.
It’s part of bigger plans for 160 charging points on streets, at park-and-ride-sites, and in other popular locations across the region.
The Greater Manchester scheme is forecast to cost £2.7m, with £1.7m coming from a government grant and the rest from the 10 town halls.
David Hytch, TfGM’s information systems director, said: “By providing these electric charging points we hope to encourage greater use of greener electric and plugged-in hybrid vehicles”.
“You’ll be able to sign up as a scheme member to use the charging points, or people can use pay-as-you-go technology similar to that employed in car parks”.
“TfGM has its own electric car and the technology is impressive. We will be running an awareness-raising campaign in the near future so that people can learn more about the scheme and the environmental and economic benefits of electric cars.”
