London to install 1,300 electric charging points by 2013

The city-wide electric vehicle charging network in London will be launched in spring 2011. The scheme called Source London will deliver 1,300 public charging points throughout UK's capital city by 2013.

From 2011, there will be a phased installation of 1,300 public charge points on residential streets and off-street locations, such as supermarkets, public car parks and at shopping and leisure centers.

Already there are more electric drivers in London than anywhere else in the UK, but we are now entering an incredibly exciting period in electric motoring. Major manufacturers are gearing up to launch more affordable, practical electric cars over the next few years, whilst the cost of traditional fuels are making petrol-free driving an increasingly attractive option, London Mayor, Boris Johnson said in a statement.

Through the development of Source London, we are seeking to create the fertile conditions for electric vehicles to flourish to make our city the electric driving capital of Europe, Johnson added.

The Source London network will create a single visual identity for electric driving across the capital, and allow members to charge their vehicles at any public charging point in exchange for a GBP 100 (US $161) annual membership fee. Once Source London will be launched in spring 2011, drivers will be able to sign up for the scheme online on the network's website.

Transport for London is working with other partners to install a network of charge points across Greater London which will have twice as many points as there are petrol stations in London. Source London is the network that will bring together London's new and existing public charge points into one network. This will be run by Transport for London working with a leading sustainable technologies and engineering supplier who will sponsor Source London's entire back office function.

Earlier, the mayor wanted to introduce 100,000 electric cars to the capital's streets and to build an infrastructure of 25,000 charging points, but the Greater London Authority was forced to reduce the number largely because of cost considerations.

Governments across the world have set aside billions of dollars in the form of subsidies for early adopters of these alternative energy cars and to boost production of batteries for such vehicles despite persisting doubts about how many people will actually buy them.