Solar electric vehicle points at park and ride

Electric vehicle (EV) owners can now charge their cars using solar-powered points at a park and ride site.

Nine EV charging points have been installed by the parking bays closest to the bus stops at the site in St Ives.

Cambridgeshire County Council said the chargers used renewable electricity produced by the park and ride's smart energy grid — a network of solar panels mounted on canopies across the site.

Powering up will cost 50p per kWh plus a fixed connection charge of £1.25 per use.

The council said revenue generated from the chargers supported "the provision of front-line council services including social care".

The chairwoman of the council's environment and green investment committee, Ros Hathorn, said: "We're committed to becoming a net zero county by 2045, so it's great to see innovative projects like the St Ives Smart Energy Grid deliver some of the renewable energy we need right here on our own park and ride site."

Later this year the council plans to install 35 renewable energy-powered EV charging points including three accessible chargers at its park and ride in Babraham Road near Cambridge.

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