South East England plugs in to Electric Vehicles

Today sees the grand unveiling of the ‘Source East Electric Vehicle Charging Network’ in South East England. The charging scheme will provide a network for the whole of the East of England for electric vehicles, delivering 1200 accessible charging points by 2013 from the M25 to the north Norfolk coast and from the M1 to Felixstowe. Ecotricity will ensure that electricity comes from renewable sources, further lowering the carbon footprint.

Source East charging posts are being installed with an array of public and private locations ranging from global multinationals, SME’s, tourist attractions, retail outlets, public car park operators, railways stations, local businesses and with county and city councils who are keen to provide streetside charging facilities. Drivers who register for the scheme will have unlimited access to the charging points. Many sites have already been identified as locations for plug-in points and with site surveys already completed, EV charging posts with the Source East logo will start to become a familiar sight across the East of England.

A selection of mainstream Electric Vehicles will be on hand at the launch, to demonstrate that the market is developing. All these vehicles offer the advantage of no tailpipe emissions. Source East is working the vehicle manufacturers in order to help build the local market and raise public awareness to the benefits of using Electric Vehicles. The initial focus will be to support the hot-spots in and around Bedford, Luton, Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Thames Gateway South Essex and London Stansted Airport.

David Martell Chargemaster’s (supporting partner of the scheme)Chief Executive comments: ‘The launch of Source East is a significant development in the Plugged in Places Scheme and we are proud to be a supporting partner of the initiative. I personally congratulate all those involved in the scheme which is another milestone for the EV industry.’’

The Source East Electric Vehicle charging network will be launched by Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Government Spokesperson, Department for Communities and Local Government today, when she plugs in the network at Hethel Engineering Centre in Norfolk. The Source East Electric Vehicle recharging network is managed by EValu8-TI Transport Innovations Limited a company owned by the University of Hertfordshire.

Keith Bevis, Managing Director of EValu8-TI thanked his team that have brought this together. “Work on installing this network of smart charging points, aimed at making life smoother for the electrical vehicle owner, began in the spring. The innovations that are being delivered already through this network will benefit the drivers, the environment and the economy of this region. This is just the start.”

Vicky Ford, MEP for the East of England, who had delivered the region’s bid for Plugged in Places funding to Westminster in October 2010, said, “Companies and Universities in the East of England have been at the cutting edge of developing hybrid and electric cars. I want to see this spirit of innovation staying in our area. It is great to see the charging posts now going into the ground and the infrastructure to support the development of this technology.”

Published: Thursday, 21st July 2011