Electric car drivers in the UK are being offered the chance to break free of the city and hit the open road.
Green energy firm Ecotricity has launched the world's first national motorway charging network for electric vehicles.
It has installed free power points at 12 Welcome Break service stations, with 17 more promised later in the year.
Until now, a lack of charging points between towns and cities has made longer journeys impractical.
"There's a bit of the chicken and egg situation going on," said Ecotricity founder Dale Vince.
"People are not buying electric cars because they're not sure about charging, and people aren't putting charging points up because [not many are] buying electric cars."
Faster charging
The national network also addresses another common complaint about electric vehicles - charging time.
Welcome Break's power outlets offer two types of sockets - a three-pin one for 13A current supply and a seven-pin one for a higher 32A supply.
Using the 13A supply can mean waiting around 12 hours and probably spending the night in one of the service area hotels.
Opting for the higher current option will top-up a car in just 20 minutes - and fully charge it in one hour, said Mr Vince.
"So in the time it takes you to get a cup of coffee and a sandwich, you can charge your car," he added.
However, not all electric vehicles are compatible with the newer 32A system.
留言列表
