College plugging into electric cars
THE first electric car charger in the mid-ulster region has been installed at South West College, Cookstown. The rapid charger, which has been installed as part of the ecar Project in Northern Ireland, jointly led by Department for Regional Development and Department of the Environment, can charge a vehicle to 80% of its capacity in just 25 minutes.
While most drivers will recharge their ecars at home overnight, the two Departments have launched what will become a fully integrated network of public charge points becomes available to everyone using an electric vehicle. The charge points provide a convenient facility for drivers to ‘top-up’ away from home, if necessary and Charge Points in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are fully compatible.
Whether using the car for personal or commercial reasons, electric vehicles, with a typical range of around 100 miles on a full charge, now offer a tangible alternative to petrol or diesel fuelled vehicle.
From a climate change, an air quality and a health perspective there is a clear need to do something about the emissions from road transport. One of the ways of tackling this challenge while retaining flexibility over transport choice is to encourage greater use of low emission / zero emission vehicles.
The ecar project is set to change the way we think about transport. A spokesperson from DRD said “Our aim is to make Northern Ireland a world leader in carbon reduction and the use of electric vehicles, ideally powered by electricity from renewable sources, is an excellent way to decarbonise transport and contribute to our climate change, air quality and noise objectives.”
Anyone, including business users, can take advantage of a Government grant that offers a saving of up to £5000 off the list price of a new electric car or up to £8000 off the list price of a new electric van.
The first 300 private or business users who buy an electric vehicle qualify for a £1,500 grant to install a charge point at their home or workplace.
Other financial incentives are available, including: exemption from fuel duty; vehicle excise duty; reduced company car tax; van benefit charge; and fuel benefit charge. Business users can also benefit from enhanced capital allowances.
To find out more go to www.nidirect.gov.uk/ecar
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Weather for Dungannon
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
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Wind direction: North
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