8 February 2019
The North East has been successful in a £500,000 bid to install rapid electric charge points for taxis and private hire vehicles across the region.
The funding through the Government’s OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) Taxi Fund will pay for new rapid charging points for 19 vehicles at 10 locations.
The charging points have been chosen around town and city centres across North East England, through consultation with the taxi and private hire trades.
These charging points will integrate with the successful Go Ultra Low North East Programme which is delivering a high-quality public charging network across the region as well as undertaking engagement activities and working with companies to map out the future EV network.
Councillor Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “We have won £500,000 funding from Government to support our ambition to increase the number of electric vehicles on the region’s roads.
“We have worked with the taxi and private hire trades to find town and city centre locations for rapid charging points which meet the needs of drivers. Across the 10 locations up to 19 vehicles will be able to charge at any one time, day and night.
“This is an important step in our plans to provide modern, practical, clean and sustainable transport networks for the North East in the years to come.”
The 10 locations include two sites in Newcastle City Centre and one in the centre of Gateshead, plus further locations at Chester-le-Street, Blyth, Wallsend, North Shields, South Shields and Houghton Le Spring. A full list of the sites and the number of vehicles that can be charged is below.
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is a team working across Government to support the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. It is providing more than £900 million to position the UK at the global forefront of ultra low-emission vehicle development, manufacture and use to boost economic growth and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Notes to editors
Expected Locations of charge points
| Local Authority | Site Location | Chargers | No of Vehicles served |
| Durham | Chester Le Street, One Point Hub | 1 rapid | One |
| Gateshead | Back Walker Terrace Car Park | 1 rapid | Two |
| Newcastle | Blandford Square Car park
Clayton Street |
1 rapid
1 rapid |
Two
Two |
| Northumberland | Keel Row Car Park, Blyth | 1 rapid | Two |
| North Tyneside | Coronation Street Car Park, Wallsend
King Street Car Park, North Shields |
1 rapid
1 rapid |
Two
Two |
| South Tyneside | New George Street Car Park, South Shields | 2 rapids | Four |
| Sunderland | Brinkburn Crescent Car Park, Houghton le Spring | 1 rapid | Two |