Member Article

Electric plans get private sector boost

Major private sector backers have pledged their support for the North East’s electric transport plans.

Tesco, British Gas, CE Electric UK, the AA and Capital Shopping Centres have teamed up with Regional Development Agency One North East to put in place the necessary infrastructure, including recharging points.

The companies will provide high-profile locations for charging points, along with technical advice and vital promotional.

The collaborative effort aims to place the North East at the forefront of the electric vehicle infrastructure rollout.

One North East will install 750 charging points over the next two years to give electric drivers the confidence that they can travel then power up.

One North East head of strategic economic change Chris Pywell said: “We are delighted to have such high-profile private-sector backing for what the region is trying to achieve.

“Electric vehicles are not a futuristic vision, they are on our roads now. It’s a reality that we must take advantage of, not only to lower our carbon emission levels, but to exploit the economic potential it offers the region.

“We want the North East to be showing the rest of the world how best to develop a comprehensive infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .