Almost 200 owners have charged their electric vehicles in the Cotswolds since charging points were installed last year

Two rapid Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) provided by Cotswold District Council were used more than 6,600 times, 100 per cent more than anticipated. This is an average of 44 charges per vehicle in a year.

One EVCP was installed at the Beeches Car Park in Cirencester and another was installed at the Old Market Way car park in Moreton-in-Marsh to encourage more people to adopt a greener mode of travel.

Cllr Chris Hancock, CDC Cabinet Member for enterprise and partnerships, was delighted with the results: “These figures show that the use of electric vehicles in the Cotswolds is far higher than we would have expected at this stage, and indicates that local motorists are keen to adopt environmentally-friendly vehicle technology.

"Charges during the first year were the equivalent of a saving of over 1,450 kg of carbon dioxide emissions and I expect this trend will continue to rise as more people buy electric vehicles.”

Funding for both EVCPs was provided by the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) but Cllr Hancock believed there could be scope for CDC to fund further charging points: “We are looking at how we can best meet the parking needs of motorists in the future and we should consider the provision of more electronic charging points as part of those plans."

Local sustainability expert, Matt Fulford of Inspired Efficiency, Chedworth, also welcomed the EVCP usage figures: “People are starting to realise that EVs provide a fantastic driving experience, and the range is not the concern that many think it is.

"These two rapid charge points in the Cotswolds fill the previous gap in the nationwide rapid charging infrastructure which now exists and enables other EV drivers like myself to enjoy emission-free motoring.

"With the exponential growth of numbers of EV’s on the road I am sure that the usage of these points will continue to exceed expectations, and the development of additional points will help to ensure the district provides the necessary infrastructure for residents and visitors alike.”

The EVCPs allow motorists to charge their vehicles in about 30 minutes – up to 8 hours quicker than standard charge points, and also a three to four hours improvement on fast charge points.

There will be a £4 ‘charge and park’ fee which will cover a charge-up for each vehicle using the EVCPs and up to an hour’s worth of parking. Users can access a Pay As You Go service via telephone or mobile phone app to pay for this service.