Businesses urged to pave way for electric cars in North East

Jan 20 2010 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

BUSINESSES have been urged to help pave the way for the introduction of electric vehicles across the North East.

Time is running out for organisations to get Government cash available to cut the cost of installing electric charging points.

Spending chiefs at development agency One North East have told company bosses they have until January 31 to sign up for as much central funding as possible for the region’s electric vehicle infrastructure.

The cash calls follow a visit last year from Transport Secretary Lord Andrew Adonis who told businesses to bid for a share of the Government’s £30m “Plugged-In Places” initiative.

Businesses signing up can get half the costs met through the scheme, bringing the bill down to £2,500.

The push for electric charging points comes after the Government was criticised for not doing enough to spread the “low carbon revolution” to other parts of the UK.

Ivan Hodac, head of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, said the Government’s “bit by bit” approach to installing the charging points would not do enough to reassure motorists wanting to buy an electric car.

He warned if the success seen in the North East was not replicated elsewhere it would hamper efforts to bring electric vehicle production to Nissan’s Wearside plant.

The manufacturer has already delayed an announcement on whether thousands of car-production jobs are coming to Wearside.