Recharge the Californian way
Power-firm EDF and Elektromotive have joined forces to install recharging stations designed to allow commuters to recharge vehicles while at work.
The viability of electric cars is set to take a giant leap forward after energy giant EDF announced it is to install 250 recharging stations across the UK by April 2008.
The company is to join forces with recharging station manufacturer Elektromotive to provide the recharging stations, which it claims will make electric cars such as the G-Wiz and MEGA City more attractive propositions for urban commuters.
Calvey Taylor-Haw, managing director of Elektromotive, said the provision of a network of recharging stations would allow commuters without off-street parking to consider purchasing electric vehicles and also extend the cars' range.
He said: "Electric cars already do about 40 miles per charge, so they are more than adequate for most urban journeys but this will introduce a real comfort factor for people as they know they will be able to recharge away from home."
He added that around 200 of the charging stations, which provide a standard 240V charge, are expected to be deployed in London with a further 50 planned for other cities including Brighton and Sheffield.
Payment plans for the recharging stations are likely to vary from council to council with some planning to offer the service for free and others expected to charge. However, with most electric cars costing 1.3p to 1.5p per mile to run, costs would be minimal.