Birmingham City Council has implemented a network of 36 Evolt electric vehicle charge points at 18 locations across the city in both on-and off-street locations,

Cllr James McKay, cabinet member for a Green, Safe and Smart City, said: “The widespread use of electric vehicles is still some distance away but they are starting to gain a foothold in the market.

“This means it is essential that we develop the infrastructure which will make their use as easy as possible. The new charging points are in a range of key locations, with many offering free parking for up to three hours.

 “We are committed to offering the widest range of sustainable transport options possible, and will continue to explore how we can bring further innovations to Birmingham.”

The posts, which were installed by E.ON Energy, are part funded by the Government’s Plugged-In Midlands.

It is anticipated that the scheme, managed by Cenex, will lead to a regional network of more than 500 electric vehicle Charging Points across both the East and West Midlands.

By becoming a member of Plugged-In Midlands, electric vehicle drivers are issued an RFID membership card, which allows them to use the Evolt points with no charge for the electricity used.

However, in some locations, most commonly the off-street car park, the relevant parking charges apply.

Developer APT Technologies said that the Evolt Street charger has a tamper-proof opening mechanism for  two charging outlets. It has a digital screen that displays information such as user ID, energy consumption and charging times and LED lighting to show charge point status.

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