A new £1 million grant programme has been launched to encourage the nationwide installation of recharging points for electric vehicles.
The Department for Transport (DfT) scheme is being managed by the UK's Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies (Cenex).
The scheme is designed to support facilities supplying alternative transport fuels with the aim of assisting the Government’s strategy to decrease carbon emissions from road transport.
The programme will make an initial £1 million of funding available until March 2011 to develop the UK-wide alternative refuelling network, including charging points for electric vehicles and hydrogen and natural gas/biomethane filling stations.
Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex, said: “I am delighted that the DfT has appointed Cenex as delivery partner for this exciting new programme and very pleased that the IGP is now underway.
“For fleet operators the cost of installing refuelling or recharging infrastructure has always been a barrier to switching fuel use. This programme will encourage operators to accelerate the introduction of lower-carbon technologies into the UK vehicle market, thereby helping cut the UK’s total carbon emissions.”
The programme will support the deployment of facilities for alternative fuels, providing grants for the infrastructure necessary to fuel environmentally friendly vehicles that cut carbon and pollutant emissions.
Rosie Snashall, DfT Electric Vehicles and Policy Manager, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Cenex, given their expertise in low-carbon technologies and their understanding of the market.
“As our delivery partner, Cenex will leverage the demand from organisations wishing to install refuelling or recharging stations for vehicles, thus enabling them to bring down the costs of reducing carbon for everyone.”
Cenex will be hosting information days in August and September across the UK to provide details of the programme, how to apply for funding and the quality of projects required from applicants.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme follows on from an earlier scheme previously administered by the Energy Saving Trust.
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