Cenex has announced an extension to the Plugged-in Midlands scheme, offering a package of grant funding opportunities for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle charging infrastructure which will run until 31st March 2014.

The new scheme will complement the original Plugged-in Midlands (PiM) scheme, which offered grant funding towards the capital costs associated with vehicle charging infrastructure, and which ran until the end of March.  The original scheme will have part-funded over 600 charging points across both the East and West Midlands when work currently in progress is completed.  

The new scheme will continue to encourage the installation of fast and safe charging points, using the latest technology as demanded by all mainstream manufacturers of electric vehicles. However, whereas the old scheme was very broad – providing a wide range of charge point options to any individual or organisation based in the Midlands region – the new scheme will start to standardise access to charging points across the country and will be structured around targeted activities that reflect the type of business or service that the charging point owner provides. 

As such, all charging points will have to meet a minimum specification in terms of their interface and functionality.

Robert Evans, ceo of Cenex, said, “The additional funding that the Office for Low Emission Vehicles has chosen to channel through the Plugged-in Midlands scheme reflects the success of the first two years of delivery.  The original plan was to install 500 charging points supporting 1000 EV registrations by March 2013; and these targets have been exceeded.”

“Together, the East and West Midlands represents the second largest region in the UK for new car sales after London and the South East, and the targeted measures that will be delivered through the new scheme will all help to increase EV sales, making the Midlands a leading region for electric vehicle adoption.”

Adrian Vinsome, head of programmes for Cenex, added, “We are delighted that the Office for Low Emission Vehicles has extended funding for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.  It has taken time to build up interest in the original scheme, but now that more and more people are becoming aware of the vehicles, the level of interest in charging points is also increasing.” 

“We’re registering expressions of interest now, and will launch the new scheme formally in May with a couple of Information Days to explain the details and outline how interest in the grant can be taken your forward.”