Oxford seeks locations for electric car charge points

A scheme aimed at creating 100 on-street electric charging points across Oxford has been launched by the city council.

Oxford city council is working in partnership with Oxfordshire county council to encourage residents interested in having a charging point built in their area to come forward.

Oxford city council wants to create 100 on-street electric charge points by 2019

The trial is being funded through an £800,000 grant from the Office for Low Emission Vehicle’s go ultra-low cities fund.

Future

Councillor John Tanner, executive board member for a clean and green Oxford, said: “Electric vehicles are the future, so get switched on. We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to plug into new technologies, save money and help the environment.”

The government created the £40 million pot, as part of its drive to make every car sold an ultra-low emission vehicle by 2050, which includes electric and hybrid vehicles that produce 75g/km or less of CO2.

Both councils are interested in trialling 30 chargers from at least six different organisations either later on this year or in 2017.

Solutions

The authorities are investigating solutions available on the market such as low-tech cable gullies, which prevent pedestrians from tripping on charging cables.

Oxford has brought in a low emission zone in the city centre to help tackle air pollution

The best solutions that encourage people to buy electric cars will be used to roll the scheme out fully by 2019.

The city council has brought in a low emission zone to tackle air pollution in the city centre, upgraded cycle routes and added solar panels onto its buildings.