Kent has been named as one of the major beneficiaries of an additional £37 million in national funding to increase the number of charging points for electric cars.
Kent County Council will receive £237,000 this year and another £36,000 in 2014/15.
Meanwhile, Dartford Borough Council was successful in bidding for £125,000.
The South East Coast Ambulance service (SECAmb) also secured funding with £60,000 for this year and £37,500 the following year.
The announcement was made by business minister, and Sevenoaks MP, Michael Fallon and transport minister Norman Baker.
The money will be used to provide charging points to enable greater uptake of the new breed of environmentally-friendly cars and hybrid vehicles which need to be plugged in to charge up rather than be filled with fuel in the conventional way.
There will be the chance to secure further funds later this year too, when the second round of funding is announced - the closing date for bids to which is October 30.
This week’s announcement comes hot on the heels of an extra £500 million being committed to drive forward the market for ultra low emission vehicles, as part of the government’s plans for roads reform published in July.
Transport minister Norman Baker said: “With new models coming to market every month from major motor vehicle manufacturers and running costs of two pence to three pence a mile, these vehicles are an increasingly attractive option for many consumers and businesses.”
Mr Fallon added: “The Coalition government will provide 75 per cent of the cost of installing new chargepoints.
“The £37m funding for the package comes from the government’s existing £400m commitment to increase the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles and is available until April 2015.”
Kent County Council is set to create a further 75 publicly accessible charging points as a result of the funding.
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