The locations of
charging points for plug-in vehicles are to be systematically
mapped across the country to make it easier for motorists to go
electric, Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister
Mark Prisk announced today.
The National Chargepoint Registry, to be developed by POD Point –
a UK-based chargepoint manufacturer - will be a
publicly-accessible database of chargepoints across the UK.
Alongside this, a new system – the Central Whitelist - will be
created to make it easier for motorists to access each chargepoint
without having to sign up to new schemes each time they charge in
a different location.
Norman Baker said:
“We know there is public appetite out there for plug-in vehicles
and as government we’re doing everything possible to make them a
real option for both motorists and industry.
“This Registry will get us away from the mind-set of; will I,
won’t I get there? And I’m sure that public and private
chargepoint owners alike will get behind the initiative because
the more information we have up there the more motorists will be
encouraged to make the switch to electric.
“The Central Whitelist offers charging scheme operators a really
straightforward way to share membership card details – it will
enable their members to access chargepoints outside their ‘home’
charging scheme. This freedom to roam between charging schemes is
a very important step forward for the plug-in vehicle market.
“There is no doubt that low-carbon vehicles are here to stay, we
will continue to work with industry to create a world-leading
charging network that really reflects the needs of its users.”
Mark Prisk said:
"The
National Chargepoint Registry delivers our commitment to make it
easier for motorists considering ultra low carbon cars to access
charge points and so encourage their take-up.
“This is a real opportunity for companies to use the data in
innovative ways while meeting consumer demand for information
which will help them get to their destinations.”
The Registry will allow businesses to innovate and provide
products, such as satnav and mobile apps, for plug-in vehicle
owners to access. Motorists will then know where and how they can
charge along their journey, so addressing concerns about the range
of vehicles and the new ‘Central Whitelist’ will increase people’s
charging options – enabling members of a particular charging
scheme (e.g. the Source East) to easily access chargepoints in
other areas of the country (e.g. the Midlands) .
Flora Heathcote, Commercial Director POD Point said;
“Whilst we are perhaps best known as a charge point manufacturer,
half our business is actually software development. We were the
first company to introduce networked charge points to the UK, and
currently run several of the charge point networks across the UK.
“We are delighted to be selected by OLEV to create the central
charge point network, and believe this cements our position as the
leading developer of charge point management systems in Europe.”
Notes to Editors
1. The development of a National Chargepoint Registry and
Central Whitelist was a commitment made in the Government’s
Infrastructure Strategy published earlier this year, which can be
found here;
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/plug-in-vehicle-infrastructure-strategy
2. POD Point (www.pod-point.com) has been awarded a contract worth
£89k (excluding VAT). They will be hosting the data on a server,
and are creating systems that will allow plug-in vehicle
recharging schemes to easily upload and download information. They
will also place data from the National Chargepoint Registry on
data.gov.uk and will create a system that allows real time
interrogation of this data by mobile devices such as mobile phones
and in car navigation systems. 3. Schemes interested in adding
their information to the systems should get in touch with POD
Point: flora.heathcote@pod-point.com. 4. The Central Whitelist
will be a registry of membership card information for different
recharging membership schemes (e.g. for regional schemes such as
the Plugged-In Places). The registry will make it easier for card
holders to access chargepoints across the country, and potentially
internationally, without having to sign up to new schemes each
time they charge in a different location (provided the schemes in
question have developed the necessary commercial arrangements). 5.
Neither of the systems will store data of a personal nature (such
as names, addresses or bank details). 6. Both systems are due to
go live early next year. The project will develop and deploy the
National Chargepoint Registry and Central Whitelist for a period
of approximately 24 months after which it is expected that
responsibility for the system will transfer over to the Plug-in
Vehicle infrastructure industry. 7. The Government has a £30m fund
to kick-start installation of recharging points in 8 areas across
the country. The Plugged-In Places projects are installing
infrastructure in London, Milton Keynes, North East England, the
Midlands, Greater Manchester, the East of England, Scotland and
Northern Ireland. 8. The Government has made provision of over
£400m to promote the uptake of ultra-low carbon vehicle
technologies. This includes approximately £80m supporting research
and development activities; £30m for the installation of
infrastructure; and, subject to review, provision of around £300m
to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament. 9.
The Plug-in Car Grant is a consumer grant of up to £5,000, or 25%
of the value of the car, which consumers can benefit from directly
at the point of purchase. 10. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles
(OLEV) is a cross-Whitehall team that has been established to
manage this programme of measures. Comprising people and funding
from the Departments for Transport; Business, Innovation and
Skills; and Energy and Climate Change; OLEV is responsible for
taking forward a national policy on this shared agenda. Press
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