The Growing UK Electric Charging Network
02 June
An e-revolution!
The UK’s growing electric charging network is a huge incentive for more people and companies to buy ‘EV’ or electric vehicles.
What’s more is that there are a number of private and government bodies that provide electric vehicle charging points across networks of highways and other roads so there has never been a better time to buy an electric vehicle.
Check out the latest Government announcement on electric vehicles here.
A growing network of electric charging stations
The growing use of electric cars both for personal and fleet use can directly counteract the adverse effects of using petroleum-based automobile fuel, which results in the emission of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global warming. Electric cars are an alternative to this. Here are just some of the advantages and disadvantages.
The growing electric charging network in the UK was kick-started in 2009 when 230 million pounds was earmarked to provide incentives to buy EV by The Department of Transport. This scheme became operational in 2011, with each person buying an EV becoming eligible for a rebate of anywhere between £2000 and £5000. Apart from this, EVs are also exempt from taxes such as annual vehicle tax and purchase tax, making EVs tax free.
This E-revolution aims to have an extensive network of charging stations in London, amounting to 25,000 stations, by late 2015. The “Source London” project also installed 1300 electric charging stations for the public by 2013.
In 2010, London, Milton Keyes, and the North East region were selected to have an extensive network of electric charging stations in place. This will happen in phases, with the first year seeing the installation of 2500 charging points and the next three years resulting in more than 11,000 charging stations.
Congestion charges for electric vehicles
The Department of Transport also announced a “Plugged-In Places” scheme whereby grants are offered to increase the number of electric charging stations in the UK. This scheme plans to promote at least 85,000 charging stations soon.