Mega rise planned for charging points

By David Wrottesley

30th June 2008

Electric car recharging posts are springing up all over Britain, with 1,000 of the futuristic points set to be installed nationwide by 2009.

The sockets are concealed in hi-tech pillars on pavements or in car parks, and allow motorists to recharge their vehicle’s batteries on the go.

Drivers have to shell out a single £75 payment, for which they receive a special key and a charging cable. Then they simply park up, unlock the flap and plug in, before charging begins. Average time to top up the batteries is around two hours.

“In the next two months, we will have installed a further 70 bays across the country bringing the number of recharging points to 200,” said Mary Jennings, administration manager of Elektromotive, the country’s largest supplier of the posts. “And at the current rate of growth, a figure of 1,000 bays by 2009 is expected.”

Negotiations are being held with councils including Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, who want to set up networks of bays. Several shopping centres have also placed orders.

Leading the way in electric car infrastructure is London’s Westminster City Council, which boasts 60 charging posts in its car parks and streets. It has recently added an extra 12 ‘Juice Points’ costing £3,300 each.

But it’s not all good news. Pioneer of the free parking for electric cars scheme, the City of London Corporation, is scrapping the initiative, because it says too many motorists are taking advantage of it.