Electric vehicle event
Transport Minister Norman Baker MP offers his support for the creation of electric charge points at Adastral Park and Port of Felixstowe.
Transcript
I am sorry not to be able to be with you today at Adastral Park - but delighted to be able to join you in your electric vehicle event today - by video - and offer my support.
I understand that Adastral Park has always been a pretty cutting edge sort of place with a [stellar] name to reflect its history of experimentation and innovation - in aeronautics first off1 , and then as home for British Telecom’s (BT’s) global innovation and development centre.
In a way, it is emblematic of the kind of advance that is being made now with plug in vehicles - with new models coming to market and an ever-widening network of charge points around the country.
The Source East team have made impressive progress, with partners in the public and private sector, to get this bedded in around the east of England.
BT charge points are a welcome addition to the network. So too will be Hutchison Ports’ new points at Felixstowe that go into service today - connecting UK’s largest container port to the Plugged In vehicle network.
Access to workplace charge points helps to build the case for people moving to the electric vehicle option and I fully expect that your lead will encourage other companies to follow.
You have got a number of electric vehicles on site today.I hope everyone who wants to gets the chance to test them out and feel how they drive.
Another welcome development is Source East and green energy UK’s announcement of their new partnership - which gives Source East members access to discounted green energy for home charging over night.
For many electric vehicle drivers, that is going to be the routine - delivering major savings on running costs and freedom from fuel forecourt queuing.
This is a time of innovation and ground-breaking technology development - much of it happening here in the UK.
It is giving motorists great new driving opportunities - which will as well help put a significant dent in our carbon emissions and create new opportunities for economic growth.
The coalition government is four square behind this. We have made a £400 million commitment, among other things to support grants for plug in cars and plug in vans and to provide funding for Plugged In Places like Source East.
I hope you have a very good day and make the most of testing out the new kit.
1Royal Flying Corps/RAF test centre from 1917