Corby increases support for EV drivers

Corby borough council in Northamptonshire has set up five parking bays for electric vehicles adjacent to charging points, as part of its drive to become the biggest supporter of electric vehicles outside of London.

According to the council, the bays which will be in operation from midnight on November 20 2014 will provide a higher turnover of spaces to support electric vehicles, ultimately improving air quality for residents and businesses within the area.

Council and Electric Corby delegates mark the announcement of the electric vehicle bays

The electric vehicle bays will be designated to the bays in the immediate vicinity of the current recharging points at the Parkland Gateway Car Park off Westcott Way, ensuring electric vehicles within the borough have access to the current infrastructure already in place.

The leader of Corby borough council, councillor Tom Beattie, said: “The council in partnership with Electric Corby are continuing to lead the way in delivering public electric vehicle infrastructure in the town and this is something that we should be very proud of.

“Now we have these charging points in several areas throughout the town it is important that we ensure they can be used. We know that there are more electric vehicles now being used within the borough and we hope that by introducing charges such as dedicated electrical vehicle bays then we can encourage this trend to increase further.”

Surge

Nick Bolton of Electric Corby, said: “With a 56% year on year increase, the recent surge in sales of electric and hybrid cars coincides perfectly with the completion of this first part of Corby’s charge network. As a future focused place Corby is positioned well for residents and businesses to benefit from the latest advances in vehicle design.”

In September 2013 seventeen 3-phase AC chargers and one DC rapid charger were installed at fourteen different sites in the borough including a fourteenth century public house in Rockingham, parking bays and associated services at Rockingham racetrack and a 50kW rapid charger in a central location in the town of Corby (see airqualitynews.com story).