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The Regional Development Agency is currently preparing its bid to the Government’s £30m ‘Plugged-In Places’ initiative, which will effectively provide match-funding for the installation of charging points on streets, in car parks and in commercial, retail and leisure facilities.

There has already been significant interest in the scheme from a host of regional partners, and other interested parties now need to contact One North East as soon as possible. The Agency wants to secure as much central funding as possible for the region’s electric vehicle infrastructure but only has until January 31 to submit the bid to Government.

By signing up to the project, businesses and organisations across the North East will ultimately be able to install charging points at their premises for half the standard price – around £2,500 instead of £5,000 – with the difference made up by the Plugged-In Places funding. They will also find themselves at the forefront of this exciting new industry that is being pioneered in North East England, particularly through the Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles.

Those who have confirmed their support include supermarket firm Tesco, Land Securities (owners of the Bridges Shopping Centre), and support services provider eaga. Local authorities to have signed up include Sunderland City Council, Durham County Council, South Tyneside Council, Stockton Borough Council and Newcastle City Council, joining the likes of Northumbria University, the University of Sunderland and the North East Business and Innovation Centre in Sunderland in the regional bid.

The Plugged-In Places initiative was launched by Transport Secretary Lord Andrew Adonis in November 2009 to support the development of between three and six electric car cities and regions across the UK which will act as trailblazers for electric car technology. The experiences of these locations will inform the future development of a national charging infrastructure.

The charging points secured through this programme will contribute to the 619 charge points which One North East is going to install in 2010. That commitment was made when the Agency signed a Definitive Agreement with car manufacturer Nissan in December, setting out a road map for the roll-out of electric vehicles and infrastructure in the region.

The first 40 charging points are already being installed in central Newcastle and Gateshead and will soon be fuelling up passenger cars from the North East’s electric vehicle demonstrator project, which is part-funded by the Technology Strategy Board and will be launched this year.

Chris Pywell, Head of Strategic Economic Change at One North East, said: “This is an excellent financial opportunity for regional businesses and organisations who want to help lead the switch towards green transport and we want as many people as possible to be involved.

“If our bid is successful, the funding would strengthen our region’s position as a leading location in the UK both for electric car technology and for the development of a national charging infrastructure.”

Businesses and organisations interested should contact Dr David Beeton, Business Strategy Senior Specialist at One North East, on Tel 0191 229 6382 or email david.beeton@onenortheast.co.uk

Ends

For more information on this release contact Paul James, PR Specialist Advisor at One North East, on Tel 0191 229 6429, Mob 07795 267126 or email paul.james@onenortheast.co.uk

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