Drivers are set for an electric car revolution after Birmingham won a share of a £20 million pot which will see more than 100 charging points installed across the city.
The announcement was made as the Government revealed drivers would receive up to £5,000 off the cost of nine electric models through a Whitehall-paid grant from January 1 next year.
Motorists buying the Mitsubishi iMiEV, the Mercedes-Benz smart fortwo ED and the Peugeot iON will qualify for the reduction.
Of the other cars in the scheme, the Citroen CZero will be available early next year, while the Nissan Leaf and the Tata Vista EV will be available in March.
Available from early 2012 will be the Toyota Prius Plug-in, the Vauxhall Ampera and the Chevrolet Volt. More are set to follow.
Birmingham will have chargepoints across the city, including facilities at Birmingham University, Broadway Plaza, the Arcadian, Brindley Place, the Bullring and Longbridge Technology Park.
Among the most common public charging points are ‘Elektrobays’, shoulder-high posts with a plug socket mounted near the top.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: “A few years ago, ultra-low emission cars with mass-market appeal appeared just a pipedream.
“Now they are a reality and we can have all the convenience of the car without the carbon that normally goes with it.
“Government action to support affordable vehicles and more local charging points means we are on the threshold of an exciting green revolution. 2011 could be remembered as the year the electric car took off.
“The British public has in the past shown it’s ready to embrace new technology and take practical steps to adopt a lifestyle kinder to the environment, so we could really be at the start of something big.”
