You may be surprised to hear that there are now over 182,000 plug-in electric vehicles registered in the UK – and they’re becoming an increasingly common sight here in Ruddington, too, with dozens of drivers in our village having already made the switch from petrol or diesel.
These national statistics are for cars and vans that are zero-emission capable by running only on electric power for a reasonable range – that’s to say pure-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). Both types are able to be recharged via a plug, unlike conventional hybrids.
Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) up to the end of October 2018 show the plug-in car market now makes up 2.4 per cent of all new cars sold in the UK. The British Government’s current “Road to Zero” strategy aims to see between 50% and 70% of new car sales, and up to 40% of van sales, being “ultra-low emission” by 2030, with only sales of “effectively zero emissions” vehicles by 2040.
For anyone with an average commute – and the ability to charge up at home or at work when required – the day-to-day use of these quiet and environmentally-friendly vehicles is already perfectly possible and practical. The latest Nissan Leaf, for example, should take you 168 miles on a full battery. Running and servicing costs are far lower than an internal combustion engined car or van, in addition to their green credentials. But what about those drivers with no off-road parking – or needing to travel beyond the currently more limited range of these vehicles?
In January 2016, Nottingham was named one of the UK’s first “Go Ultra Low” cities and awarded £6.1 million of funding by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles. The City Council’s new Go Ultra Low Nottingham team then introduced a range of projects to support the uptake in Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs).
Around £2 million of this fund is being used to expand the publicly accessible vehicle charging infrastructure in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – with over 200 new D2N2 Network charging points now being installed across the region. Go Ultra Low Nottingham has just published this regional map of its progress so far:
The map above shows the NEW points being installed or investigated by Chargemaster on behalf of the councils – which are in addition to hundreds of other charging points already up-and-running in the region on various charging networks. However these D2N2 chargers offer reduced tariffs for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire residents. The whole network is also supplied by OVO Energy – meaning all these points are powered by 100% renewable electricity. They comprise a mix of fast and rapid chargers at strategic locations on the major road network, and also at council owned car parks, public transport interchanges such as park and rides (below) and retail outlets.
Currently Ruddington has no public charging facilities – although Central College in our Business Park does already have two points available during working hours for staff and visitors. But that situation could be about to change…
At a meeting of Ruddington Parish Council‘s Environment & Policy Committee on 27th February 2018 it was agreed by Councillors that they would support a bid to install a twin charging point within the Parish Council owned (Co-op) car park on Church Street. That’s one of the units which can be found “under investigation” on the new D2N2 interactive map >>HERE<<.
This news has been welcomed by Ruddington Green Party. Spokesperson Ian Wilson, who himself has made the switch to driving a pure electric vehicle, commented: “Electric cars contribute to helping with the climate crisis if you use renewable energy. For the owner they are cheaper and more enjoyable to drive and don’t pollute the air. EVs are a great personal choice – however we also need good public transport and more support for cycling and walking.”
However, Mark Daly of Go Ultra Low Nottingham told us: “We are at the mercy of what is under the ground, and Western Power Distribution (WPD), but we will let you know the outcome of our survey work.” Sadly a RED Diamond nearby on the map reveals that an earlier WPD inspection of the public car park at Rushcliffe Country Park found it “…unsuitable for charge point installation due to electrical issues on site.”
Fingers crossed that, for village centre residents with no off-street parking – and for EV owning shoppers who might be drawn here because they can charge whilst they park – a GREEN Diamond will be the eventual outcome for Ruddington’s Church Street Car Park.
