U.K. Grows Electric Vehicle Charging Locations

The government is increasing the number of plug-in points for electric cars.

February 27, 2013

LONDON - The U.K. government has begun its second phase of a plan to enlarge the number of plug-in places for electric cars, Petrol Plaza News reports. The "Plugged in Place" initiative has put in 2,800 of the around 8,000 charging boxes for electric or battery-powered cars in the United Kingdom.

The government has been focused on boosting acceptance of electric vehicles ?" so-called zero emission cars ?" for a few years, but only recently started supporting that effort with plug-in stations.

Thus far, only 3,000 electric cars are used in the country, but industry analysts forecast those numbers could double annually as prices fall. Experts predict an increase in the number ?" and visibility ?" of charging points will help.

"Lots of people still think there is no charging infrastructure around and that prevents them from buying electric cars. So we need public infrastructure to show people that there are lots of places they could plug in if they needed to," said Dr. Yvonne Huebner with Newcastle University.

"We all know the feeling when you are nearly out of fuel and there is no fuel station in sight anxiety levels do increase," she added. "But at least we know that when we get to the fuel station the fuel is there so when the electric points are next to the fuel pumps perhaps the anxiety will gradually at least if you know the electric point is next to the fuel pump."

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