A new network of rapid-charging points for electric cars is a “missed opportunity” says a Cumbrian expert.

Nine rapid charging points, commissioned by Cumbria County Council last week, can fully charge an electric vehicle in 30 minutes.

But Suzanne Burgess, a director of Solway Renewables, says it will cost motorists around £10 a time, enough to deter regular use.

She said: “That compares with around £5 in most other places and nothing at all at charging points in the north east.

“Anyone coming into the county will be peeved at having to pay more. 

"It's no cheaper than petrol or diesel so isn't an incentive to use electric vehicles. It's a real missed opportunity.”

Solway Renewables, based at Bowness-on-Solway near Carlisle, has installed around 350 charging points for electric vehicles.

The council's charging points – in Carlisle, Kendal, Workington, Whitehaven, Keswick, Ulverston, Kirkby Stephen, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ambleside – should be a game changer because can recharge a vehicle in the time it takes the driver to have a coffee and use the toilet.

The council secured £438,000 to set up the network with most of the money coming from the Government’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles. 

APT Controls Group supplied and installed the charging points.

The council has defended its fees. A spokesman said: “Before this project, there were only a handful of rapid chargers available to the public mainly at motorway service stations.

"EV charging tariffs do vary. For example, the estimated cost of a rapid charge – assuming 24kwh to achieve 80 per cent on a Nissan Leaf – is £7.20 in Cumbria, compared with £8.50 in Brighton, £8 in Aylesbury, £5.50 in Worcestershire and £4.50 in Gloucestershire.”

The charging points can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis by mobile phone app. Regular users are recommended to register on the ChargePoint Genie website.

For a one-off £20 fee, they get a card to access the chargers and pay 30p per kilowatt hour for the electricity they use.

Typically, electric cars have a range of 80 to 100 miles between charges. 

Charging point locations: Carlisle – Lowther Street (opposite Rural Payments Agency); Kendal – Busher Walk car park; Workington – Allerdale House car park; Whitehaven – Senhouse Street car park; Keswick – central car park; Ulverston – Brewery Street car park; Kirkby Stephen – Christian Head car park; Kirkby Lonsdale – New Road car park; Ambleside – Low Fold car park.