THE first wave of new electric vehicle charging points across Oxford have been approved by transport bosses, with the first set to arrive within months.
David Nimmo Smith, cabinet member of Oxfordshire County Council, hailed the technology as ‘the future’ and said he expected many more to be built over the next few years.
It is part of a trial that officials hope will lead to a further 100 electric vehicle charging points being rolled out across Oxford, in what is thought to be the largest scheme of its kind in the world.
The trial will involve installing different kinds of charging points, with the most successful ones taken forward to a bigger scheme.
Businesses have been asked to put forward proposals for these and it is understood the city and county councils are likely to announce which ones have been chosen in the coming months.
Possible solutions already on the market include low-tech ‘cable gullies’ laid into the pavement and high-tech ‘smart lampposts’ capable of charging a vehicle.
The authorities hope the Oxford scheme will encourage more people to buy electric cars to help cut carbon emissions in the city, with 16,000 homes set to benefit from the 100 charging points proposed.
CHARGE: Andy Edwards, left, and Terry Kirkby with the Rose Hill electric car and charge point at the community centre Picture: Ric Mellis
Andy Edwards, of eco company Bioregional, worked with car club Co-wheels to get an electric car based at Rose Hill. He said:
“Electric vehicles are an essential part of the transition to a low-carbon, cheaper energy economy.
“Without them it would be very hard to achieve the kind of reductions in fossil fuels we are aiming for.”
Read more: The Oxford Times