New charging points to provide boost for Plymouth's electric car use

New charging points for electric cars are to be installed at key sites in Plymouth.

Plymouth City Council has won £142,500 of government funding for the facilities that will be set up on land owned by public sector organisations.

The grant funding from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) will cover up to 75 per cent of the purchase and installation costs. The bid was developed in partnership with Amey PLC, Devonport Dockyard and Naval Base, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Plymouth Community HealthCare and City College Plymouth.

Cabinet member for Transport Councillor Mark Coker said: "This is a big step forward in our plans to develop electric car use in the city. We hope that as it becomes easier for people to use electric cars with lots of charging points around the city and the region, more people will see them as a viable alternative."

Andrew Davies, Sustainability and Environment Service, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust added: "The Trust is working hard to reduce the impact on the local environment in particular by reducing the carbon emissions generated as a result of the provision of healthcare.

"Our commitment is demonstrated through our Carbon Trust Carbon Management Plan which offers different ways to reduce the hospitals carbon emissions. We also recognise the importance of working in partnership with local organisations and the community to jointly pursue ways in which we can continue to reduce Plymouth's overall carbon emissions and improve its environment.

"This project demonstrates what can be achieved by working closely with others to achieve a common goal."

The public sector scheme aims to install fast charging facilities that can fully charge a car in two to three hours at 16 sites including the city centre car parks, the park and ride sites, Derriford Hospital, Mount Gould and Cumberland Health Care centres, Plymouth Life Centre, City College Plymouth and the Dockyard/Naval Base.

This will enable electric cars to start being included in organisations' vehicle fleets, provide staff and customers with the ability to charge their cars while at work or visiting these businesses and provide publicly accessible charging facilities at many of the city's key destinations.

Plymouth Community Healthcare Chief Executive, Steve Waite said: "Plymouth Community Healthcare is pleased to support the wider access to more environmentally friendly transport and are enabling access to charging points at two of our main sites."

City College Plymouth's Sustainability Officer, Laura Wellington, said: "The College is continually looking at ways to become more sustainable and is thrilled to be involved in this innovative scheme. By installing an electric charging point at our main site, Kings Road, we are helping to increase the infrastructure required for people to consider electric vehicles as an option for sustainable travel."

The facilities will be installed over the next 18 months with additional points as demand grows.

Visit the Council's Plymouth Public Sector ChargePoint Scheme page for more details.

Plymouth City Council was also a partner in Cornwall Council's Rapid Charge bid which has secured funding. The bid proposes 29 sites across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset providing rapid charge facilities on all of the major roads to ensure the region is fully connected to the rest of the UK for electric vehicle use. Two sites are identified for Plymouth, one at Marsh Mills and one in the city centre.