Region to benefit from influx of electric car charging points
PARTNERS of the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan have been awarded £345,000 to develop a network of electric vehicle charging points.
Charging points for electric vehicles will be introduced in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
The funding from the cross-Governmental Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) will be matched by Metro, working in partnership with the five West Yorkshire district councils, with £125,000 of Local Transport Funding.
Metro chairman, councillor James Lewis, said: “Electric vehicles have a vital role to play in our key Local Transport Plan objective of reducing carbon emissions.
“By 2020 there needs to be 1.7 million electric vehicles on Britain’s roads and the start of a network of public charging points made possible by this funding will help to encourage drivers to consider making that switch to electric.”
Making progress towards a low carbon, sustainable transport system for West Yorkshire, while recognising transport’s contribution to national carbon reduction plans, is one of the current West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan’s three key objectives. The other two are improving connectivity to support economic activity and growth and enhancing the quality of life of people living in, working in and visiting West Yorkshire.
Train operator East Coast also made a successful bid. receiving £150,000 for standard charging points at stations along its route, including Wakefield Westgate station. Metro has agreed to provide a contribution of £5,000 Local Transport Plan match funding for Westgate.
An electric car’s batteries can be fully recharged in around 30 minutes at a rapid charging point while a standard charge takes about three hours. A full charge will take a car about 100 miles.
Cllr Lewis said: “Although insurance is cheaper, there is no road tax and recharging is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, we need to start providing this infrastructure that gives people the confidence to make the leap.
“These grants will start to generate that confidence and help spark West Yorkshire interest in electric vehicle.”
Discussions will now take place to establish a network of suitable locations, near strategic routes, where motorists will feel comfortable spending 30 minutes re-charging their vehicles.
