Ballymoney puts the brakes on electric vehicle scheme

The ECar project is a pilot project designed to promote, encourage and research the use of electric vehicles in order to inform the future roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

The project, which is jointly led by DRD and DOE is partly funded by grants from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) matched with funding from a consortium which includes NIE, Power NI, INTEL, SAP, Donnelly Motor Group, Armagh City and District Council, Belfast City Council, Fermanagh District council, Larne Borough Council and Newry & Mourne District Council.

With limited resources the original scope of the pilot project was to concentrate charging infrastructure in six locations.

These were chosen because of their roles as gateways to the region and hubs of cross border trade.

With additional funding there is the potential to install more charging posts throughout the region to further explore future requirements while also facilitating longer journeys and reducing range anxiety.

Additional grant funding is potentially available to allow the project to expand, providing the means to extend the project further and offer additional councils the opportunity to join.

The minimum contribution which all councils have been asked to provide towards the overall project is £10,000.

At a recent meeting of councillors, members rejected expressing an interest in the scheme.