Devon gears up for electric vehicles.

Devon is gearing up for a greener future by working with electric vehicle (EV) charging company InstaVolt to install rapid chargers across the county, at no cost to the tax payer.

As figures show the number of electric vehicle drivers is on the rise, Mid Devon District Council has teamed up with the firm to bring the latest charging technology to drivers. The rapid chargers can take vehicles to 80 per cent charge in just 30 minutes. Unlike many other charging points, which can only be used through a subscription, those installed by InstaVolt are accessible to anyone on a pay-as-you-go basis.

InstaVolt installs the chargers for free, giving the council a rental income for housing them on their land and makes it money from the sale of electricity per kWhr. With no connection fee, drivers only pay for what they use.

Last week, working in conjunction with Mid Devon, Instavolt installed the first rapid charging unit at Exe Valley Leisure Centre in Tiverton. Others will follow in Cullompton and Crediton as the surrounding areas are geared up for use by both domestic and commercial vehicles.

Tim Payne, CEO of InstaVolt, said: “Installing the first rapid charger with Mid Devon District Council is a real landmark. The council is pioneering the use of a range of green technologies and we’re delighted to help them take this even further with this new initiative. The use of electric vehicles is set to increase dramatically over the coming years and thanks to the council’s forward-thinking attitude, residents and visitors to Mid Devon can rest assured that they’ll be able to re-charge quickly and easily if they adopt these eco-friendly vehicles.”

Councillor Ray Stanley, Cabinet Member for Housing at Mid Devon District Council, said: “This is an exciting development and the first of six rapid chargers we’re looking to install. I’m hoping this initiative encourages residents to have the confidence to purchases electric vehicles and so help us in our quest to improve air quality and drive down carbon emissions in the area.”

The move is the latest in a series of measures being taken by Mid Devon District Council to lead the way in its green initiatives, using electricity and heating saving measures across several of its buildings as well as installing renewable technologies. A report has also shown the region achieved the highest increase in recycling rates in the entire county during 2015/16.

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