Newcastle Area - Green Issues & Renewable Energy Business

[Newcastle Guy]

Good stuff!

Originally Posted by hollow man

Isnt it already?

Not from what I've seen. I found that when I first moved down to Pmpey, if you mention you're from Newcastle the first thing you get is "oh, you're doing pretty shit in the football at the minute!" I couldn't care less about how the club is doing. There are plenty of more interesting things to talk about when it comes to my home town, but that seems to be the first thing 90% jump to.

EDIT: Is that picture of Brown from the last couple of days? Was it snowing again?

[hollow man]

Yeah its been lightly snowing on and off for the past week now.

[hollow man]

Im really excited about this whole 'green industry' thing. I just hope it finally is the rebirth of the river that we have all wanted for so long. But really, how much work can wind turbines provide and for how long?

[AngerOfTheNorth]

I can't see these industries providing the number of jobs that shipbuilding provided - I would presume that these industries are much more mechanised now. However when you think that if Tyneside became known as the place to build wind turbines you have the fabrication of the blades, the motor components, the tower, the foundations, the rigs and boats needed for installing and maintaining the turbines, staff needed for the maintenance, cabling etc...

It could certainly provide several hundreds if not thousands of jobs I'd guess?

[Salif]

It's a fresh start for our region, green energy and scientific research are going to become massive in our area over time.

[anonymous1]

This is nice to know. But I think some areas (Stanhope Street comes to mind, even since it has been done up, it is still filthy) could do with more.

And it's nice to know Bristol is 2nd, as that's where I'll probably be living soon.

(btw, I couldn't find a South West/Bristol forum on this site; does one exist?)
EDIT: It appears I'm talking about the wrong type of green :p

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by anonymous1

This is nice to know. But I think some areas (Stanhope Street comes to mind, even since it has been done up, it is still filthy) could do with more.

And it's nice to know Bristol is 2nd, as that's where I'll probably be living soon.

(btw, I couldn't find a South West/Bristol forum on this site; does one exist?)
EDIT: It appears I'm talking about the wrong type of green :p

Stanhope Street aint filthy

[TownPlanningNE]

Chance to gain from Government’s green push
THE North East has a “five-year window of opportunity” to make the most of the Government’s green power push, a renewable energy group claims.

A piece of land bigger than the entire north and lying 100 miles out to sea is expected to house more than 3,000 turbines.

Within five years work will start turning Dogger Bank into a source of wind energy capable of meeting 10% of the UK’s needs.

Land bosses at Crown Estates, who mange the wind sites surrounding the country, told The Journal the North East was ideally placed to service what will be the largest offshore wind farm.

And with Clipper Windpower revealing plans to build two turbines a week within a few years, more than 300 of those could be built on Tyneside.

The race is now on to attract even more companies to the region in an attempt to create a “Nissan moment” in which all the major manufacturers recognise the potential in the North East.

Business development bosses at Blyth’s New and Renewable Development Centre are leading those efforts.

Andy Williamson, business development director at Narec, said Dogger Bank would effectively become “the biggest power plant of its kind in Europe”.

“What we are seeing now is a chance for this to galvanise the whole of the North East, and not just be an opportunity for a handful of companies,” Mr Williams said.

“The whole river system, Blyth, Tyne and Tees will be able to service this.

“Turbine manufacturers, cable manufacturers and steel. There is a lot of potential. And this is just one of nine zones. The biggest of them but there is even more potential.

“The anticipated start date for Round 3 is maybe 2014, so we have a window of opportunity of five years. The next five years is about getting our assets base right so we can attract big manufacturers here, that will stimulate supply chain opportunity and then we will have serial manufacturing on the rivers.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has already lent his support to the region’s efforts. He stuck around after Thursday’s cabinet meeting to meet potential Labour MPs standing for Newcastle seats whose support will be vital if Tyneside is to succeed.

Speaking at an event in Durham, Mr Miliband said: “I think the efforts made here to advance the low carbon economy and to bring real growth have been incredible.

“We are not world leaders at the moment in the offshore wind industry but we have made huge advances towards that today.”

Tyneside is now in direct competition with leading European states pushing ahead with their offshore production.

When Gordon Brown announced the Government’s £100bn support for offshore energy there were immediate claims that much of the money will have to spent abroad as there was no domestic manufacturer.

That claim has been met head on by Tyneside companies who will build the largest turbines in the world alongside the biggest testing facilities.

The Journal has revealed firms including GE Energy, Siemens and Mitsubishi are interested in bringing more jobs to the Tyne.

Mr Williamson said these efforts were essential if the most is to be made of the opportunities from Dogger Bank.

“We are up against big European ports, we are up against Denmark and Germany, who have a huge market and will service those first.

“So it is vital we build on what we have here and attract the international companies we are working with to get them locked into the region.

“Because two or three major names will mean two or three Nissan-style changes. That is what we want and that is what it will take to service Dogger Bank.”

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...1634-25874907/

[AngerOfTheNorth]

It still annoys me that here in the UK we talk ourselves up as having some of the best engineers in the world, but who is the British Mitsubishi, Siemens, GE Energy etc? I'm happy to have these companies start plants here, but it is a shame that a lot of the wealth created here would still then go abroad.

[anonymous1]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed

Stanhope Street aint filthy

Compared to what I would say are similar roads, like Heaton Road or Acorn Road, it really is. The road against the kerb is full of rubbish, and the seating areas at the end of the streets are destroyed by graffiti already and there's rubbish everywhere.

The fruit and veg shop doesn't help.

[gregstone]

The Arthurs Hill and Elswick terraces have a reputation of having the most litter and flytipping - in pavements, yards, and back lanes.

[TownPlanningNE]

Region to get hundreds of electric car charging points
A NETWORK of hundreds of charging points for electric cars will be created in the North East thanks to the region winning millions of pounds of Government cash.

A total of 1,300 plug sockets will be installed around the region over the next three years, on streets, in car parks, at homes, businesses, shopping centres and tourist attractions, in a £7.8m project.

The aim is to lay the groundwork to make electric cars a viable option for families and commuters and to position the North East as a major player in securing Britain’s low-carbon future.

The announcement comes as the Government unveils the North East as one of its first three “Plugged-In Places”, along with London and Milton Keynes.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North East, said: “We are delighted the Government has chosen to support our bid and that we will help lead the national infrastructure programme. The roll-out of 1,300 electric vehicle charging points across our region now begins in earnest.

“The backing we have received from regional partners shows just how much enthusiasm there is in our region to grasp the opportunities available in the low carbon vehicle sector.”

The man in charge of the roll-out of the charging points, Dr Colin Herron, One North East manufacturing and productivity manager, said: “This announcement points signals that the North East is ahead in Europe in the low carbon vehicle sector. We’re serious about it and we’re doing it.

“We have done a lot to establish ourselves as the new automotive region and the fact the Government has picked us for this funding says a lot.”

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (Olev) will hand just under £3m to regional development agency One North East, which itself will put in £3.8m.

A further £1m has been pledged by more than 40 councils, businesses and organisations in the region which want to install charging points at their premises.

The National Trust, which owns tourist attracting properties such as Wallington Hall and Cragside, and Northumberland National Park which incorporates Hadrian’s Wall, have committed to donating money.

They join Tesco, the MetroCentre, universities, Northumbria Police, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and all the region’s councils in pledging cash to the scheme.

Of the 1,300 charging points installed in locations from Teesside to the Scottish Borders, 240 will be installed at private houses, giving families the chance to try an electric car and find out how easy it is to charge. A further 250 will be in car parks, 240 at offices, 90 in shop car parks and 50 at leisure centres. Some will be “rapid chargers”, capable of filling a battery in just 20 minutes.

The aim is to have charging points at places to which people in the North East want to travel, giving motorists the confidence that the charging network is there if they buy an electric car.

The CBI in the region and the North East Chamber of Commerce have been working to drum up support from businesses.

Naomi Harris, CBI policy adviser on low carbon innovation and transport, said: “This is acknowledgement of the commitment shown by the North East as a region and an example of how the public and private sector have come together to work effectively to pull investment in.

“The development of this infrastructure will accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicles and show consumers that this isn’t a pipe dream, it’s a reality.”

One North East has already signed up to install 619 charging points this year, as part of an agreement with Nissan. The first 22 are being rolled out by Newcastle City Council as part of a testing phase.

The agency is to leaving open the fund which offers companies and organisations match-funding for charging points, allowing them to install charging points at their premises for about £2,500, half the standard price.

For more on our Great North Revolution campaign, go to www.journallive.co.uk/revolution

Buyers offered £5,000 towards their electric cars

GRANTS of up to £5,000 will be offered to motorists choosing to buy an electric car.

From January next year drivers will get a quarter off the value of their chosen electric or plug-in hybrid car, up to a maximum of £5,000.

The aim is to make the price of an electric car comparable with that of a conventional fuel car, making them more attractive to families and commuters.

The Plug-in Car Grant will work in a similar way to the Government’s car scrappage scheme, in that the value of the grant will be taken off the price of the car at the point of purchase, with dealers able to claim the subsidy back.

The offer will be available to private motorists and also for businesses’ fleet vehicles. To be eligible for the scheme, cars will have to meet certain criteria around safety, mileage range and exhaust emissions.

The Government says the £230m it has set aside for the Plug-in Car Grant is part of a £450m cash pot designed to encourage people to use electric cars. The grant announcement was part of the Department for Transport’s unveiling of a £30m fund for a national network of electric vehicle “hubs”.

The North East is one of three areas to be named Plugged-In Places, along with London and Milton Keynes.

Between them the Plugged-In Places will be installing more than 11,000 charging points over the next three years.

Transport secretary Lord Andrew Adonis said: “By this time next year, cutting edge motorists will be on the roads with these next generation cars they’ve purchased because of our help.

“And thanks to the Plugged-In Places we will have in place infrastructure to support this growing early market.

“Transport has a huge part to play in helping the UK meet its stringent emission reduction targets and today’s announcement is another step on the road to putting the UK at the global forefront of ultra-low carbon vehicle development, manufacture and use.”

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...1634-25909721/

[TownPlanningNE]

Expansion for electric car scheme in north-east England
A scheme to provide charging points for electric vehicles across the north-east of England is to be expanded with a £2.9m government grant.

Regional development Agency One North East and car manufacturer Nissan pledged in December to provide at least 619 charging points by next year.

New funding from Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) will now see this increase to 1,300 points by 2013.

Points will be installed on streets and at supermarkets and commercial sites.

The funding is part of the Plugged-In Places scheme, which is also being run in London, and Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire.

Installation of the first phase of 40 charge points in Newcastle and Gateshead is due to be completed in the coming weeks.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North East, said: "We are delighted the government has chosen to support our bid and that we will help lead the national infrastructure programme.

"The roll-out of 1,300 electric vehicle charging points across our region now begins in earnest."

The agency is providing £3.8m of funding, with a further £1m coming from public and private sector partners.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8535556.stm

[TownPlanningNE]

North East favoured for £100m wind power research unit
The north-east of England is being considered as the site for a £100m wind power research centre.

Mitsubishi said it was looking at a number of sites in the region to carry out research into building the world's biggest turbine blades.

The government is supporting the development with grants of up to £30m.

Up to 200 skilled jobs would be created over the next few years, which Business Secretary Lord Mandelson believes could grow to 1,500.

More than £18m of government cash has also been earmarked for an existing offshore wind test site off the coast of Blyth.

Lord Mandelson and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said they had signed a deal with Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Ltd (MPSE).

Mitsubishi Chief Executive Akio Fukui said the firm was looking at a number of locations in the North East where a factory will be built for the research to be carried out.

He said a prototype turbine would be built within three years and the first full-scale production will start after four years.

Lord Mandelson said: "Mitsubishi's investment and the creation of 200 highly skilled jobs is great news for our future plans in low carbon, high technology industries.

"I'm delighted that we are also supporting the wind test site in the North East, which further strengthens the region's position as a leader in the offshore wind farm sector."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8536154.stm

[TownPlanningNE]

Mitsubishi wind centre jobs boost for Tyneside
HUNDREDS of jobs could be coming to the North East with the creation of a £100m wind turbine research centre.

Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government to invest the cash in research and development into green energy.

And business secretary Lord Mandelson yesterday said the firm was looking at a number of sites in the region as potential bases for the centre, which could create 1,500 jobs.

It comes a week after American giant Clipper revealed it was moving into a factory in Walker Riverside, in Newcastle’s East End, where it will build turbine blades the size of jumbo jets.

Mitsubishi is yet to finalise exactly where it will locate its research and development base, but regeneration chiefs see the North East as the ideal location due to the region’s current expertise in this area and the existence of huge swathes of vacant industrial land, particularly along the banks of the Tyne.

And the Prime Minister is said to be of the same opinion, having described the North East as “leading the world” in the growing renewable energy sector.

Lord Mandelson signed the memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi, along with climate change secretary Ed Miliband, both of whom spent the end of last week in the region.

Mitsubishi chief executive Akio Fukui said the firm will build a prototype wind turbine within three years and that full-scale production will start after four years.

The turbines will be for offshore wind farms and will be offered for sale in overseas markets such as Germany, the United States and China as well as the United Kingdom.

Lord Mandelson said 200 jobs would initially be created, but that the scale of the development had the potential to generate as many as 1,500.

He added: “No country makes offshore wind turbines of the size we are talking about today on a commercial scale.

“Twenty years ago, the UK was a leading centre for onshore wind technology, but we failed to capitalise on that by not providing the right climate for growth.

“We are determined not to let that happen again. We are creating the largest market in the world for offshore wind and we intend to build and support the industry.”

Mr Miliband said: “This decision by Mitsubishi is a sign that the UK is starting to turn its leadership in offshore wind generation into leadership in manufacturing.

“We have the wind resource and we now have an industry that is really starting to grow.

“This is possible because of our domestic market and our commitment to supporting companies that locate here. It is another step to turning Britain into a leading green manufacturing centre.”

Mr Fukui said: “We have been working with UK Trade and Investment for some time and we look forward to further growing our offshore wind business with UK-based partner and supply chain businesses from 2010, bringing much needed competition into the offshore wind turbine supply market, and economic benefit to the UK.”

The news has also been welcomed in the region, with the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), in Blyth, Northumberland, describing it as another key piece in the jigsaw of the UK and the region leading the way on the creation of green energy.

Narec CEO Andrew Mill said: “Today’s news of the MOU signed between BIS and Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe (MPSE) is further testament to the commitment of the UK Government to realise a UK offshore wind industry. Narec welcomes this investment and looks forward to working with MPSE on their R&D programme.”

The Mitsubishi announcement comes seven days after the Clipper deal was announced. The US-firm will build the world’s largest turbine blades in the new factory, being built by Shepherd Offshore on the site of the former Neptune shipyard.

That factory takes up just one fifth of the Neptune site, which itself makes up only a tiny part of the vacant industrial land that stretches from Newcastle to the mouth of the Tyne. Speaking at the launch last week, the PM hinted at more announcements for the region, saying: “They will be the start of other companies coming here and the start of other developments, which will mean Britain is maintaining its position as number one in this field.”

The Mitsubishi deal is underpinned by £30m investment from the Government. British Wind and Energy Association chief executive Maria McCaffery said: “This all signals the rebirth of manufacturing in the UK, with an estimated 70,000 green-collar jobs to be created on the back of over £100bn of private sector investment.The combined contribution from both on and offshore wind is set to contribute up to half of the UK’s domestic electricity requirement by 2020, dramatically reducing our dependency on imported fossil fuels and displacing millions of tonnes of harmful CO2 every year.

“It is not an exaggeration to speak of offshore wind as the new North Sea oil.”

Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust, said: “The Mitsubishi announcement is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s renewable sector. We are clearly now open for business and, importantly, we are now winning business.

“The green manufacturing revolution is now becoming a reality. It comes on the same day that Siemens, alongside the Carbon Trust, has made a key investment into Marine Current Turbines, a leading British marine energy company.

“Both announcements signal clearly that the UK can and will create significant economic benefit and attract inward investment from the move to a low-carbon economy, particularly in the offshore renewables sector.”

Turbine test facility gets £18.5m grant

GIANT wind turbines will be tested off the North East coast thanks to an £18.5m Government grant.

The cash was awarded to the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), in Blyth, Northumberland, which will build an offshore facility to trial the huge structures before they are sent out to sea.

Narec has already secured investment to test turbine blades and motors, and the latest deal serves to bolster its reputation as a world leader in this field.

The announcement was made by business secretary Lord Mandelson and climate change minister Ed Miliband and was welcomed in the North East.

Lord Mandelson said: "I’m delighted that we are also supporting the wind test site in the North East.

"Coming on top of funding for Narec announced in the Pre-Budget Report, it further strengthens the North East’s position as a leader in the offshore wind farm sector."

The announcement of £18.5m to build an offshore test site was made by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills yesterday.

It will see giant turbines "plugged into" test units as close as 50m to the North East coastline, where they will be put through their paces before being sent out to sea for use in wind farms.

The scale of the latest offshore turbines is enormous.

When the announcement was made last week that the Clipper Windpower Marine factory would be built on the banks of the Tyne, the turbines it will construct were described as being the size of the Eiffel Tower with a wingspan the size of Big Ben.

The Narec centre will have the capacity to test 20 prototype turbines at a time and the new deal comes after the Crown Estate, which overseas British waters, announced the latest set of locations where wind farms will be based.

That all forms part of efforts to meet European Union targets for the amount of energy generated from green sources by 2020.

Narec CEO Andrew Mill said: "We very much welcome this funding award and the continued support we have received from central government and regional development agency One North East, which is creating a national hub in North East England for the development of offshore wind technologies. The facility will be unique in global research and development terms, enabling manufacturers and wind farm developers to identify best practice approaches across the supply chain for the development, deployment and operation and management of new turbine technologies, which will be most pertinent to the Crown Estate round three programme."

Ian Williams, director of business and industry at One North East, said: "We are delighted the Government has chosen to support this groundbreaking project.

"One North East has been investing in this new market for almost a decade now. Through national investments like this and the plans Clipper announced last week to create hundreds of jobs on the Tyne, the region is now beginning to reap the rewards of this dynamic new industry."

Historic gem returns

A SPIN OFF from a greener energy project will see a huge Tyneside-built steam turbine become the first of its size to go on public display.

The 25-tonne turbine, designed and built in 1967 at the Newcastle Parsons works, was transported back to the North East yesterday from Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire where it has been generating electricity for Britain’s households for the past 36 years.

It has finished its working life at the power station and will be replaced by more efficient Siemens turbines in a £100m modernisation project, the biggest in UK history.

Siemens, which acquired the Parsons site in 1997, is helping to cut Drax’s carbon dioxide emissions by a million tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking more than a quarter of a million cars off the road.

The Drax turbine was taken yesterday to the regional museum’s store at Beamish Museum in County Durham, and later this year will go on display in Newcastle’s Discovery Museum.

It will join Turbinia, the first vessel in the world to be powered by steam turbines, which is a centrepiece of the city centre museum.

The Drax steam turbine is part of the historic first 660 megawatt (MW) steam turbine generating sets, the largest in the United Kingdom. Carl Ennis, managing director of Siemens Energy Service in Newcastle, said: "The refurbishment of the Drax machines illustrates the continuing role of world-leading engineering expertise on Tyneside in meeting the demands for greener energy.

"The partnership with Drax and Discovery Museum will give the public a unique insight into how these local engineers continue to meet modern challenges in the power generation industry and how science and technology continues to impact our lives."

Siemens chief turbine engineer Geoff Horseman worked alongside the turbine designers from the 1960s and manages the company’s history archive.

He said: "We couldn’t think of a better final resting place than the Discovery Museum to showcase the amazing engineering heritage that we have in the North East."

John Clayson, who is the keeper of science and industry for Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, added: "The Drax turbines are visually impressive, and this project will provide an excellent showcase of large power generation turbine technology alongside the pioneering vessel Turbinia."

Siemens has been working with Drax to dismantle, transport, create display rigs, install the turbine parts and provide labour and engineering advice throughout the project.

Steve Austin, turbine engineer at Drax, said : "The steam turbine modernisation project will not only save a million tonnes of carbon dioxide, it has given everyone the chance to view a piece of living history and we look forward to seeing the turbine on display."

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...1634-25917628/

[Newcastle Historian]

Newcastle 'central' to Nissan electric car plan
Mar 19 2010 by Adrian Pearson, Evening Chronicle



NEWCASTLE will have a “critical” role to play in ensuring Nissan’s electric vehicle is a success.

Council bosses and city businesses have been told they will have to ensure hundreds more charging points are introduced across Tyneside in the three years before the Sunderland factory rolls out its first car.

Nissan wants motorists to be familiar with electric charging points as soon as possible in order to make sure there are no anxieties from would-be Leaf owners.

The new electric car will have a 100-mile range and should be able to go for around 34 miles on every £1 spent charging it.

UK vice president of manufacturing Kevin Fitzpatrick said so far the 1,300 charging points planned for the entire North East was a good start, but urged councils to go further.

Calling on the Government to make sure the next three years are not wasted, he said: “Obviously we now need as many charging points as possible, and the education programmes to explain to the public the benefits associated with electric vehicles.”

Newcastle Council leader John Shipley said: “We are delighted by the Nissan announcement. The city council’s role as the installation provider for 700 publicly available plug in points will pave the way for a comprehensive network of charging infrastructure across the North East.

“We will continue to work with our partners both locally and regionally to support Nissan’s role as global leaders in electric vehicle production.”

Houghton and Washington East MP Fraser Kemp described the decision to bring the electric car production to the region as akin to a “new industrial revolution for the North East”.

He added: “I don’t say that lightly. The move today, with its potential for jobs growth and for the environment means that people will look back and view this as hugely significant for the region.

“It will change the face of the North East economy.”

He was joined by regional minister Nick Brown who described the “fantastic” announcement as a “historic day” for the North East.

“Everyone acting together made this possible, that includes Government and others working together. I know the prime minister and Lord Mandelson have personally intervened to help secure this investment.” Businesses have also welcomed the electric ambitions.

Andrew Sugden, director of membership and policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “Manufacturing the new Leaf in Sunderland is a yet another glowing endorsement both of the Sunderland workforce, Nissan’s wider supply chain and the region’s growing strength in the low emission vehicle sector.

“This announcement is particularly important because it puts in the infrastructure for the North East to become a world leader in low emission vehicles.”

BEHIND the high-profile announcements a lot more work is being done to make sure the North East is out in front when it comes to greener transport.

Academics and smaller firms in the region are working on innovations which will make electric cars a realistic choice for families of the future.

From plans for car battery hire and exchange schemes, to tracking and mapping out where drivers can take an electric vehicle and how often they charge up, experts are planning the green car revolution.

Prof Phil Blythe is professor of intelligent transport systems and director of the transport operations research group at Newcastle University.

He and his team have been working on transport technology which will help cut congestion and reduce the environmental impact of travel in the future.

Prof Blythe is convinced electric cars will catch on and play their part in cutting the UK’s harmful CO2 emissions over the coming decades, with the North East leading the way.

He said: "In the North East we’re building up a body of knowledge and expertise which I don’t think can be rivalled anywhere in the world.

"We’ve got a number of small electric car makers in the region, we will have batteries being produced at Nissan and all the other work. And there has been a plan in the region for a number of years to pull all these threads together.

"So we’re building up lots of expertise. But it’s not just all having the engineering and manufacturing technology for the vehicles."

Prof Blythe and his team have been testing out four Mercedes electric cars to research how they work in practice.

He said: "It has completely changed my perception of electric vehicles. For urban driving they are totally fit for purpose. I was impressed with the quality of the drive and with the fact you can get 80 or 90 miles on one charge, which for most people is two to three days driving.

"We’re doing some really extensive trials about how electric vehicles perform on the road and how we can make them relevant to the public - things like charging, cost and range.

"At the moment there are a number of things which mean electric cars are not as attractive.

"The cost has been relatively higher than the petrol equivalent. That’s now changing and Nissan has made it very clear that the cost of the car will be comparable with a petrol equivalent.

"Another challenge is how to charge vehicles at home. It’s fine if you’ve got a garage, but if you live in a block of flats or on a terrace you can’t have hundreds of wires coming out of people’s letterboxes.

"I’m on a Royal Academy of Engineering steering committee looking at whether electric cars are really fit for purpose for the next decade. A lot of the technical things have been sorted out, but it’s about the softer practical issues of using an electric car.

"We are building up a massive body of knowledge about the practicalities of using electric vehicles and I know of nowhere else in Europe where more is being done to get this all in place.

"The region is really at the forefront in developing low carbon energy and transport."

Electric cars of future

THE good news at Nissan comes three weeks after the announcement of an £8m funding package to install 1,300 plug points for electric cars in the North East.

The idea is to create a network of chargers on streets, in car parks, at homes, businesses, shopping centres and tourist attractions, which will make using an electric vehicle a realistic option for families.

It is hoped decent-sized family cars like the Nissan Leaf will aid the drive to make electric cars a part of life.

Motorists will also be able to get a quarter off the price of an electric car, up to a maximum of £5,000, from January 2011, as part of a Government scheme.

The Plugged In Places initiative is being funded by the Government, One North East and businesses.

Charging points will be targeted at locations which travel planners know will be convenient for families and commuters and their locations will be uploaded onto satellite navigation devices to help motorists find a point where they can charge up.

Using one of the standard 3kw chargers it would take about eight hours to charge an electric car. But all charging points in the region will be capable of providing 7kw to halve this charge time to four hours.

In addition 26 of the points proposed as part of the North East scheme will be 50kw rapid-chargers, capable of filling the car battery in just 20 minutes.

Bosses behind the project hope this will make an electric vehicle a viable option for longer journeys.

When fully charged the Leaf can go about 100 miles, making a return trip from Newcastle to Teesside achievable. Most UK motorists travel less than 31 miles a day. The big draw of electric cars could be financial. Experts say charging the battery to full should cost about £1.

Edmund King, president of the AA and visiting professor at Newcastle University, said: "The fact that Nissan will be building the Leaf means not only will there be the infrastructure, but there will be affordable family cars on the market which are made in the region. This will put the North East firmly on the map as a pioneering area in taking the electric car revolution forward."

[Seamaster]

I note plug-in points have been installed. There are a couple at the end of Clayton Street outside the bookies.

Questions for Greg: Are these going to be marked for EVs only, and this enforced? Otherwise I can see them being permanently occupied by bogus blue badges, as usual. Also, is there a link to where all the plug-in points are/are going to be?

I am seriously considering swapping my current company car for a plug-in hybrid when its due to be changed.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

I must admit that I'd happily look at an electric car in the next few years. How often do you need to travel more than 100 miles? Plus the car companies are predicting 300 mile distances per charge by 2016.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Any idea how long a full charge takes?

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed

Any idea how long a full charge takes?

4 hours. a bit much!! though there will be some points where it'll only take 20 mins. i'd also worry about driving one out in the country where there'll be less opportunities to charge up. for now i think there a bit like scooters - something for getting around the city but no more.