Council scoops £400k for electric car charging

The council already received £73,000 in funding earlier this year

A council has been promised more than £400,000 in government funding to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) said it hoped the project would help it reach its 2024 net-zero carbon reduction targets.

The council's Conservative leader Jonathan Nunn said: "The green transition is vital as we continue on a journey to make west Northamptonshire a more sustainable place to live and work."

The local authority said it would "go to the market to select the best partner" to set up the charging points.

The council initially received £73,000 worth of funding earlier this year from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capability Fund, before the £335,000 was promised more recently.

The LEVI fund's target is to transform the on-street EV charging resources across England.

Last month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delayed the ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.

Korean carmaker Kia, which has plans to launch nine new electric vehicles over the next few years, said the announcement was disappointing.