As electric vehicles can only travel distances of about 100 miles and travelling a long distance requires forward planning, the UK government are setting up a database of charging point locations for battery powered vehicles.
The website ‘next greencar’ has mapped 700 UK locations which include 1700 charging points, although the actual number of charging points is nearer to 2500 according to the Department for Transports estimates.
Norman Baker, transport minister, says the database will help motorists ensure they are able to reach their eventual destination.
POD Point, who own a charging-point network and make charging posts, are developing the registry. They are just one of a number of companies who offer recharging posts in parking bays which include special sockets.
POD Point have been commissioned to develop the system by the Department of Transport. This has been named the Central Whitelist and will contain members information across a multitude of recharging schemes in an effort to simplify switching between providers.
The idea is to allow battery operated cars access to charge points countrywide, whilst avoiding the necessity to sign up with a new provider.
With an estimated 2,000 battery operated vehicles currently in use in the UK, hybrids (where a conventional engine charges the batteries) are still more popular amongst the general public, currently making them the firm favorite low emission vehicle.
The Department for Transport have projected that the UK will have 10,000 charge points by 2013, with the governments Plugged in Places scheme providing 8,500 of these.
The plan is for the Central Whitelist membership scheme and charging point registry to become operational at the beginning of next year.