Plug-In Vehicle Scheme Launched

• News
• Published: 09 Sep 2009 in Motoring and Car Insurance

An £11 million scheme to make it easier for drivers to plug-in and charge electric vehicles has been announced by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

The ETI plan is to roll-out a single national network that will make plug-in vehicles easily used and able to charge anywhere around the country. The 'joined-cities' plan will work in heavily populated of the country initially, including Birmingham, Coventry, Glasgow, London, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Oxford and Sunderland.

"We are supporting a UK collaboration to evaluate and accelerate the market for plug-in vehicles," said ETI chief executive David Clarke, announcing the plans at the Low Carbon Vehicle Event 2009, held at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

"Enabling plug-in vehicles to compete effectively in a market alongside petrol and diesel vehicles with their extensive infrastructure is a challenge. These plug-in vehicles are currently unknown to most consumers, who will want to know if they will be versatile, will they be affordable and will they be as easy to refuel/recharge?

"Through our plan we will help to enhance the versatility and ease of recharging. Other aspects of the ETI project will determine what it will take to reach a self sustaining mass market."