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London Mayor announces electric car vision for 2015 |
Londoners will be no more than one mile from an electric car charge point by 2015, Boris Johnson has announced.
Speaking at the Copenhagen climate summit, the Mayor revealed detailed plans to deliver a comprehensive network of electric charge points in the capital, supporting the mainstream use of electric vehicles.
The charge point plan is the first milestone in the Mayor's over-arching vision to make London the electric capital of Europe. The strategy shows how by 2015 in London, 22,500 charge points will be at workplaces, with 500 on street and 2,000 in public car parks. A strategic network of publicly accessible faster charge points will be installed as part of this coverage at key locations on the road network and motorway service stations.
To further boost consumer confidence, the Mayor announced Transport for London is working with boroughs to launch in 2010 a one stop website and membership scheme for electric vehicle drivers. Currently electric car drivers have to register in every borough they charge up in, whereas this will provide a single point of information and payment option to access charge points across the capital.
The estimated cost of the 25,000 charging points, converting the Greater London Authority's fleet, and other initiatives to kick-start London's electric vehicle revolution is £60million. The Mayor has pledged to fund a third of this. Transport for London is currently working with a number of private and public sector organisations to pull together a consortium to apply for Government infrastructure funding, available from next financial year. This, along with other government funding, would be transformed into electric vehicle charge points from 2010, electric vehicles for the Greater London Authority fleet from 2011 and incentives and guidance for businesses to electrify their fleet.
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Mayor of London |
