A bright idea for charging up cars
Council looks at linking electric points to street lights
Charging points for EV (Electric Vehicles) could combine with streetlights in future in a bid to meet growing demand.
SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) reported an increase in demand for hybrid and electric cars of 14.4 per cent in February this year - but a 23.5 per cent slump in diesel sales.
Recent research by motoring organisation AA meanwhile has shown a growing number of car buyers struggling to make their minds up about what fuel their next car will use.
At a recent meeting of Stirling Council, Tory councillor Ross Oxburgh asked what plans there were to install on street charging points for electric cars across the Stirling area in light of increasing demand.
Environment and housing convener Councillor Jim Thomson said it was a valid point and that while it was not new technology it had only been around for a few years.
He added: “I have had a few people in my ward keen to get it outside their front doors and have run into difficulty in terms of who has a statutory duty to lay the cables for example.
“It’s a complex area and we have to look at it and make a decision as best we can.”
Councillor Thomson said the Scottish Government had committed to phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032. They have identified £35 million in 2018/19 to be invested in EV charging points across Scotland, a proportion of which is expected to come to the Stirling Council area.
“We are currently consulting with
We currently have charging points in a number of car parks and are looking at options to extend this provision