Charging ahead

Electric vehicle charging points have now been installed in three Erewash Borough Council car parks.

Charging points – where one electric vehicle can be charged at one time – are now available at Long Eaton Train Station and the town’s Gibb Street car park.  In Ilkeston, one charging unit is available, along with two dedicated electric vehicle parking bays, at the Pimlico town centre car park.

The units are all rapid chargers and the bays are clearly marked.  Drivers will need to get a pay and display ticket for their vehicle while they use the bay to charge their car.

Erewash was allocated £107,000 to install the charge points – funding that came from Nottingham City Council, following its successful bid for £6.12m of government money to become one of four Go Ultra Low Cities.  The City Council is managing the project with BP Chargemaster as the delivery partner.

More information about where electric vehicles can be charged can be found at www.chargeyourcar.org.uk/d2n2.

The move follows the installation of contactless payment machines in Erewash Borough Council car parks to make life easier for drivers.

In Ilkeston town centre, contactless payment is now available at two of the three pay machines in the Albion Centre car park; both machines at Pimlico; and the pay machines at Queen Street and South Street car parks.

Rail commuters have also had a boost at Long Eaton Train Station, where they can pay contactless at both machines.

Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, Councillor Michael Powell, said: “This is an encouraging step forward for both vehicle users in the borough and the environment. The money allocated from Nottingham City Council should go a long way in helping make lives easier for drivers. Providing charging points will also send a positive message that electric vehicles are becoming more commonplace and having access to charging points locally will be of great benefit.”