New fund aims to widen network of charging points across the country in the UK.

This article originates from here .

The government wants more drivers to choose electric cars by providing more charging points. Photograph: Clive Gee/PA

Britain is to get its first “electric service stations” as part of a £40m government fund to encourage drivers to switch to plug-in cars.

Four new stations are to be built, with at least one being located on the M1, ,which became the UK’s first inter-city motorway when it was opened in 1959. The state-of-the-art hubs will make it easier for electric vehicle drivers on motorways and in city centres to charge their car and will ease concerns over the range of the vehicles.

Similar service stations are popular in the Netherlands, and those in the UK will offer drivers the chance to “grab a coffee and use the Wi-Fi while rapid chargers top up their car in as little as 20 minutes”, according to government sources.

The location of all four stations will be unveiled on Monday tomorrow when transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin awards £40m to cities which have been bidding for funds to develop innovative green technology.

The fund will add an additional 750 charge service areas across the country and will install points at several Park and Rides on the edge of towns and cities to make them electric-vehicle friendly. It is hoped the facilities will encourage people to consider switching to a plug-in car.

McLoughlin said: “The UK is already a world leader in the production and use of electric cars, but I want to see us go much further. We are investing £600m by 2020 to improve air quality and create jobs so that we can achieve our goal of every new car and van in the UK being ultra-low-emission by 2040.

“Towns and cities across the country have come up with game-changing ideas and our backing will mean thousands more greener vehicles on our roads,” he added.