A strategy to tap a £37 million Government fund to create a network of electric car charging points across Cornwall has been discussed at a major summit meeting.
The Government has announced the fund could cover up to 75% of the cost of installing electric vehicle (EV) charging points for individual households, public sector organisations and train stations.
Ecodrive, which is based at Pool, near Redruth and is one of the UK's leading independent advisors on electric vehicle infrastructure, organised Friday's summit at the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre in Truro.
It brought together key representatives from the NHS, local authority, police, tourism industry, voluntary sector, car dealerships and local electric vehicle owners.
Tim Bryant, commercial director at Ecodrive said: "The announcement is great news as it will provide a considerable contribution towards the installation of EV charge points at home, in train stations and in key public sector organisations.
"The announcement follows a record year of electric car sales in the UK last year and could mark a key turning point in making electric vehicles more accessible to a much broader market.
"Cornwall has quickly become one of the UK's fastest growing regions for retail electric vehicle sales proving that there is a real appetite in the county for the adoption of innovative technology whenever the sums add up."
Applications to secure funding for public charge points, which need to be managed and coordinated at a local authority level, must be received by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by the end of April 2013.
Matthew Trevaskis, director of Ecodrive, added: "Following the recent Government announcement we were very keen to bring together key representatives and interested parties at the earliest opportunity to begin to establish a strategic framework to ensure that we, as a region, are able to take full advantage of the available funding.
"This summit is just the first in a series of events that we will be running during the next few months as we work towards securing funding for a range of rapid charge points across the region."
The second meeting will be taking place on Monday, March 18 at the Cornwall Hotel in St Austell from 9am until 11am. It is being held the day after Cornwall's first Electric Vehicle Rally.
To find out more about the charge point funding or if you are interested in attending the next summit, contact Ecodrive on 0845 466 3835 or via email at info@eco-drive.co.uk