SOUTHAMPTON has taken another step towards a carbon-free future with the installation of 30 new electric vehicle charging points in council-owned car parks.

These are available to any car park customer and will be free for an ‘introductory period’, although the council has not specified how long this will be.

These new chargers come as part of Southampton City Council’s Clean Air Strategy, which made a commitment to encourage the uptake of low emission technologies and vehicles.

The council claims the chargers – which have been installed at the Marlands, West Park, Grosvenor Square, Bedford Place and Eastgate car parks – are capable of fully charging a small electric car (such as a Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen e-golf) in an hour.

Cabinet member for sustainable living, Cllr Chris Hammond, said: “The city council is fully committed to reducing air pollution from exhaust emissions from vehicles in the city.

“Facilitating the uptake of electric vehicles is part of our Clean Air Strategy and these 30 chargers are the first of a city-wide network which we’ll deliver.

“As well as these 30 chargers, other incentives include a 90 per cent reduction in annual city centre season ticket parking fees, and offering taxi drivers cashback on licensing fees if they replace older more polluting vehicles with low emission alternatives. So far this has seen 16 diesel taxis removed from our streets to be replaced by much less polluting hybrid cars.”

The council has also promised to introduce further charging facilities as part of a city-wide network which will be delivered over the coming months.

To use the electric vehicle chargers, users will need to register in advance and order a charge card.

Drivers will also need a standard Type 2 Socket, which either come with the car or can be purchased from any electric vehicle charging retailer