THE city is set to see a wave of new electric car charging points after winning Government grant cash.

Oxford City Council will get £18,000 next year and £22,500 this year to help cover the cost of installing the points for recharging the electric vehicles.

Oxford Brookes University also won £60,000 to help install the charge points next year.

In May The Oxford Mail reported that plans to make Oxford the electric car centre of Europe had stalled as more than 60 charge points had not yet been installed despite a high profile launch a year before.

Oxford City Council and Oxford Brookes secured the new funding in the first round of handouts from a £37m pot following a Government pledge to provide 75 per cent of the cost of installing the new charge points.

Transport Minister Norman Baker yesterday said: “This is brilliant news for those already using these vehicles and will give greater confidence to those who are considering making the switch to electric.

“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.”