Six new UK gas/EV projects

Six successful bidders will share £660,000 (US$1 million) match funding from the UK's Department of Business for gas refuelling or electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects.

A private business in Essex, three councils across Yorkshire and the West Midlands, a public body coordinating transport in Merseyside and a community group on the Isle of Lewis are all winners in the latest round of support from the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme.

The six new projects will install infrastructure to support public and private sector fleets in trialing a wide range of natural gas, bio-gas and electric vehicles including buses, HGVs, and refuse collection vehicles. The projects offer the potential for fleet users to demonstrate cost and carbon savings as well as making significant local air quality improvements.

Business minister Mark Prisk said: "This funding is part of our commitment to build a low-carbon economy which will boost economic growth as well as help meet our ambitious climate change targets. It is one of the ways we are supporting changes in consumer behaviour that will drive the shift towards low carbon vehicle technologies."

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "I welcome this addition funding to support low carbon vehicle infrastructure. Low carbon vehicles provide significant benefits - reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality - but we need adequate refuelling points if the market for these vehicles is to grow. These projects will help to make low carbon vehicles a viable alternative for businesses and individuals."

29 July 2010