London, Bristol, Nottingham and Milton Keynes are among the winners of a £40m UK Government fund, awarded to help cities across the country drive the adoption of electric cars.
Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary, said in a statement: “These Go Ultra Low Cities have proposed exciting, innovative ideas that will encourage drivers to choose an electric car. I want to see thousands more greener vehicles on our roads and I am proud to back this ambition with £40 million to help the UK become international pioneers of emission cutting technology.
“The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low emission vehicles and our long-term economic plan is investing £600 million by 2020 to improve air quality, create jobs and achieve our goal of every new car and van in theUK being ultra-low emission by 2040,” he continued.
The breakdown
As part of the announcement, London has been awarded £13m to create ‘Neighbourhoods of the future,’ prioritising ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in several boroughs across the city.
Milton Keynes will receive £9m to open a Electric Vehicle Experience Centre.
Bristol has been awarded £7m to offer its residents free parking for ULEVs, access to three carpool lanes in the city, to install over 80 rapid chargers and implement a scheme to encourage people to rent a plug-in car for up to four weeks.
Nottinghamshire and Derby will use their £6m to install 230 charge points and offer discounted parking to ULEV owners, as well as access to over 13 miles of bus lanes across key routes across the city.
The Government scheme will also provide £5m in funding destined for specific initiatives across Dundee, Oxford, York and the north eastern regions.