Transport minister Andrew Jones has visited the Eden Project in Cornwall to open the first rapid plug in car chargepoint at the site, part of 16 being installed across the county in summer 2015.

Plug-in drivers will be able to use the new infrastructure to charge their vehicle in as little as 30 minutes, thanks to Department for Transport provided grants totalling up to £765,000 for a rapid charging network in Devon and Cornwall.

Jones said: “Plug-in vehicles are cheaper to run, better for the environment and an increasingly popular choice for families and businesses.

“The Government is investing £500 million in low emission vehicles over the next 5 years, including in chargepoints such as those at the striking location of the Eden Project.

“The new rapid chargepoint network continues our commitment to improving journeys in the south west, with a record investment in roads. This is part of our long-term economic plan to improve transport infrastructure and support jobs and opportunities in this beautiful area.”