electric vehicle chargepoint

The UK is set to welcome a wave of new chargepoints for electric cars, with the government announcing winning bidders for the first round of the £37m recharge infrastructure funding.

The funding, which was announced in February, was allocated to local authorities to offset the cost of installing infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles.

With this development, money will be made available to several local authorities, NHS trusts and train operators to provide charging points.

The winning bids for the first round of this funding were announced by Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Michael Fallon.

Norman Baker said that with hundreds of new chargepoints added to the ever-expanding network of infrastructure, people will be able to recharge their cars at stations, in hospital car parks and on streets all over the country.

"This is brilliant news for those already using these vehicles and will give greater confidence to those who are considering making the switch to electric."

"With new models coming to market every month from major motor vehicle manufacturers and running costs of £0.02 to £0.03 a mile, these vehicles are an increasingly attractive option for many consumers and businesses," Baker added.

Michael Fallon said that the automotive industry in the UK is a real success story, as four out of every five vehicles made here are exported and the sector supports many thousands of high-quality jobs across the country.

"The funding, which was announced in February, was allocated to local authorities to offset the cost of installing infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles."

"We need to keep working with the industry to maintain this momentum and secure its long-term success, which is why we are supporting the transition to ultra-low-emission vehicles," Fallon added.

The £37m funding for the package will be made available from the government’s existing £400m commitment to increase the uptake of ultra-low-emission vehicles and is available until April 2015.

This announcement comes shortly after the government announced an extra £500m to drive forward the market for ultra-low-emission vehicles, as part of its plans to reform roads.

The government is also inviting bids from train operators, local authorities and the wider public sector for the second round of funding, and the closing date for bids to be submitted is the 30 October 2013.

Image: Business Minister Michael Fallon and Transport Minister Norman Baker announced the winning bids for the first round of the funding. Photo: courtesy of Gov.uk.