Some 18 double charger units for electric vehicles will make their debut in Bristol’s public car parks and park-and-ride sites tomorrow. Known as Source Bristol, the network, which is compatible with Source London and Source Southeast networks, is part of the city’s bid to become European Green Capital by boosting the number of low carbon transport options.
One of the Bristol & Bath Science Park’s new fleet of electric cars will be the first to use the new charge point at the Trenchard Street car park. Last month the park made six additional charge points available to tenants, visitors and the public along with three Mitsubishi iMiEVs for use by its tenants.
Additional private charge points are also being installed in car parks and retail parks such as Cabot Circus and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway as well as hotels and visitor attractions across the South West.
Bristol City council cabinet member for communities Cllr Guy Poultney said: “This is the first step in providing infrastructure to make electric vehicle use a genuine option for commuters, visitors and residents. We know there is a growing demand for alternative forms of transport, which are so much better for our environment as well as saving money on soaring petrol costs, and we hope the launch of this network will make it easier for people in Bristol.”
Science Park chief executive Bonnie Dean added: “The new electric cars are proving very popular with (our) tenants, making it easier for them to travel to work sustainably and then use an electric car if they need to get to a meeting or event off site. The distinctive branding on the cars is helping to raise the profile of the park and of our commitment to operating sustainably.”
Ann O’Driscoll, director at North Bristol Sus Com, a group of major employers promoting sustainable commuting to 40,000 staff, said: “Electric cars are a fantastic urban transport solution as they’re both green and cost effective. A number of our employers are looking to install electric car charging points in their own car parks so having a network around Bristol will offer further encouragement and make using an electric car a much more viable option.”
Drivers using the charging units will need to pay the normal parking charge in the car parks but electricity will be supplied at no cost, providing they sign up to provide basic details of their electric usage four times a year. Drivers will be issued with a RfiD card that accesses the Source Bristol and other Source sites. For an additional fee they can also join private networks across the country.
The electricity used by the charging units is a mix of green and non-green energy but the council hopes to increase the proportion of non-fossil energy over the next three years, helping make the scheme even more sustainable. The charging units are supplied by Chargemaster.
The public car parks with the new charging units are:
Trenchard Street, BS1 5AN – 12 charging points
West End, Jacobs Wells Road, BS8 1EH – 6 charging points
Templegate, BS1 6PL – 4 charging points
College Street, BS1 5UY – 4 charging points
The Grove, BS1 4QY – 2 charging points
Ashton Park & Ride, BS3 2HB – 2 charging points
Portway Park & Ride, BS11 9DB – 4 charging points
Brislington Park & Ride, BS4 5LR – 2 charging points
* Bristol is bidding to become European Green Capital 2014. It has been shortlisted alongside Copenhagen and Frankfurt and the bid team will present to the judges in Brussels on June 8. The winning city will be announced on June 29.
Bristol Business News is backing the bid
For more details and to pledge support, go to www.bristolgreencapital.org/support.
