Energy & Environment: Electric Vehicles

The market for electric cars is still in its early stages, however exponential growth is expected, starting at the high end of the market, as legislation, social awareness and technological advances accelerate change in transport choices.

The presence of Smith Electric Vehicles, Liberty Electric Cars and Avid in North England reflects their confidence in the region's skills base and the electric charging point infrastructure being created in North England to allow electric vehicles to operate to their full potential.

The automotive sector and its related supply chain could soon be worth close to £1 billion in North East England, with access to further opportunities across the UK.

The North East region is the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles. It is installing the first comprehensive network of electric vehicle charging points in the country. Trials are taking place involving a large range of electric vehicles being road-tested at a state-of-the-art research and development centre in Sunderland.

The North East has also just announced it has been chosen by Nissan as the location of the mother plant for the company’s electric car battery production in Europe. It was announced in early ’10 that The Nissan Leaf would be manufactured in the NorthEast.  Click here to for the full release.