Rapid electric vehicle charge points have been installed at two car parks in Cornwall.
Cornwall Council’s Communities and Public Protection team secured £94,000 from the Government’s Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Taxi Infrastructure Scheme which aims to support the transition of petrol and diesel taxis to electric by helping local authorities fund charge point infrastructure.
The money was used to fund new charging points at Berrycoombe Road Car Park in Bodmin and Flowerpot Chapel Car Park in Redruth. Both sites sit within Air Quality Management Areas.
There are two charging bays at each car park. The first is designated for electric taxis only and the second bay can be used for all electric vehicles, although taxi drivers should be given priority if there is a queue.
The charger in Bodmin is now complete and ready to use. You can see more about it in the video below.
The one in Redruth is due to be finished in the coming weeks.
A rapid charger will fully charge a vehicle in around 30 minutes, at a cost dictated by the GeniePoint network. This is approximately £8 per charge. Users will also be expected to pay for a parking ticket for the time they are charging their vehicle.
The project supports Cornwall’s Climate Change Action Plan and its ambitious plan for Cornwall to be carbon neutral by 2030, 20 years ahead of the 2050 national target.
Councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for Environment and Climate Change at Cornwall Council, said: “As a Council we are committed to tackling climate change and this is just one example of how we are helping the environment, as well as improving air quality.
“We hope these new charge points will provide an incentive for more taxi firms to consider switching to electric vehicles and make it easier for residents and visitors with electric vehicles to charge up when out and about.”
Press release published on September 9th, 2021
