Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Electric Cars

Electric cars and vans offer significant improvements over conventional internal combustion engines in terms of fuel efficiency, local air quality, noise, and emissions. They will become widely available over the coming years, and eventually phase out petrol and diesel-powered vehicles - certainly for cars and vans.
Whereas availability is low at present, purchase price is high, this will reduce as production volumes increase. Running costs for electric vehicles are very much lower than for conventional ones, due both to the efficiency of the motors and also to there being fewer and more long-lasting components.

At present, the range of electric cars is lower than for a petrol of diesel engine, though this will quickly change as battery technology advances. Many cars use both old and new technologies - battery/electric for shorter ranges, and conventional engines for longer journeys. Many of these 'hybrid' cars will offer plug-in battery recharging, meaning that for shorter, commuter journeys the car will be operating mainly on electric power.

Users of electric cars will have a range of charging locations:

• Home - via a standard 13 amp socket (3kW)
• Home - via a dedicated 32 amp charging point (7kW)
• Workplace - via a standard or dedicated socket
• Public location - via a dedicated 3kW or 7kW charging post
• Key public location - via a 50kW Rapid Charge point

Public charging points are becoming more available across the North East, via the Government-backed Plugged-in-Places initiative which will see 1300 charging points installed by 2012.

Currently there are public-access charging points in Stockton on Tees at:

• Wynyard Woodland Park 
• City Learning Centre, Marsh House Avenue, Billingham
• Bede College, Marsh House Avenue, Billingham
• Kingsway House, West Precinct, Billingham
• Stockton Riverside College, Harvard Avenue, Stockton
• Thompson Street car park, Stockton
• Preston Park, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe
• Yarm Station, Green Lane, Yarm

There are further locations programmed. You can see the map of available charging points across the North East on the Charge Your Car website ( www.chargeyourcar.org.uk)
To use any of these points, you will need to register with the regional operator (via the website) and be issued with an electronic access key that enables you to plug in. For the duration of the North East plugged in Places project (until 2012) electricity will be free to registered users. After this date it is expected that an electronic billing system will be in place.