FOUR public rapid charging points are being installed in West Sussex to help electric car drivers. Users can charge their electric car to within 80 per cent of full power inside 30 minutes.

West Sussex County Council, which was promoting electric vehicle charging points and electric cars as part of European Mobility Week in September, says the new points make it much quicker to top up power during journeys and they encourage drivers to venture further afield.

The four rapid charging points are at:

The South Downs Centre, North Street, Midhurst, GU29 9DH;

Billingshurst Library car park, Mill Lane, Billingshurst, RH14 9JZ;

Crawley Town Hall car park, The Boulevard, Crawley RH10 1UZ;

Storrington library car park, Ryecroft Lane, Storrington RH20 4PA.

Benefits to travelling by electric car include: fuel costs 2p a mile; free parking and/or free electricity is available at many public car parks in the south east; up to £5,000 in government grants is available to help people buy a new electric car; no pollution at the point of use, unlike petrol and diesel cars, and there are up to 40 per cent lower carbon emissions compared to other cars.

A map of every public electric charging point in south east England can be found at www.energisenetwork.co.uk/charge-locations

County council cabinet member for highways and transport, John O’Brien, said: “We support the introduction of these four public rapid charging points in West Sussex.

“Journeying by electric car is cheaper for the motorist and healthier for the environment. Any infrastructure improvement that aids the growth of electric car use is something we welcome.”