Electric start from Ecodrive

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Cornish electric vehicle consultancy, Ecodrive, brought together key representatives from a wide range of sectors on Friday, to discuss ramifications of a recent Government funding announcement.

2.Ecodrive Summit
Delegates at the Ecodrive summit

Representatives from the NHS, local authority, police, tourism industry, voluntary sector, automotive dealers and local electric vehicle owners gathered to debate last week’s news that £37 million will be made available for funding electric vehicle charge points.

The funding will cover up to 75% of the cost of installing an electric vehicle charge point. £13.5 million is available for individual homeowners to apply for directly, £11 million has been set aside for on street residential and rapid charge points, £9 million for train stations and £3 million for public sector sites.

Ecodrive explained that the timeframes for securing funding relating to public charge points are limited as applications must be received by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), by the end of April.

Matthew Trevaskis and Tim Bryant of Ecodrive presented the key points of the funding announcement and discussed opportunities to develop strategic partnerships to secure funding for a network of public rapid charge points across the region.

Funding bids will be managed and coordinated at a local authority level in partnership with Ecodrive and key stakeholders.

Households can make applications for funding a domestic charge point and, if eligible, will be considered on a first come first served basis. Any applications for funding for the other three pots of available funding (on street residential and rapid charge points, train stations and public accessed sites) need to be submitted by the end of April.

The second Ecodrive Summit will be taking place on Monday March 18 at The Cornwall Hotel in St Austell, a day after Cornwall’s first Electric Vehicle Rally which is sponsored by Hawkins Motors and supported by Ecodrive. Email Ecodrive for more details.