06 July 2011

Stratton to drive electric vehicle revolution
Cheshire motor dealer Ron Stratton is looking to jump start the revolution in electric vehicles by leading an initial 7.2m investment in the infrastructure that could make Greater Manchester a leading city region for the emerging transport technology.

Stratton, who used to own the R Stratton & Co dealership amongst many others, has formed the Manchester Electric Car Company (MECC) and is partnered by major businesses in the region such as Siemens, Electricity North West, Manchester Airports Group and Peel.

The consortium will use their own land assets such as the Trafford Centre, Salford Quays and Manchester Airport to house recharging pods, vehicle rental spaces and car clubs.

Strattons vision is for more electric cars to be used as commercial vehicles around cities, but also shared through car clubs and for their use to be integrated with public transport. He is working closely with Transport for Greater Manchester on a smart card which drivers use to hire vehicles as well as ride on trains and trams.

Stratton said: "Electric vehicles, from family cars to scooters or fleet vehicles, are going to transform the way we live and work. With new vehicles being released by major manufacturers, and with the cost of motoring continuing to rise, now is the time to switch over.

"These charging points and pod centres are just the start. I expect to oversee a tenfold increase in the number of charging points over the next few years."

In October, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities now the Combined Authority successfully bid for 3.6m in funding for the governments Plugged in Places project on the condition it was matched by private sector investment.

The programme is being led by the Office of Low Emission Vehicles and pilot projects in the North East, London and Milton Keynes were also approved. Manchesters bid is unique in that MECC, a private company, will install, own and operate up to 300 electric charging points over the first two years and six rapid charging centres.

These larger Pod Centres will be probably be based at Siemens building at Princess Parkway, the Trafford Centre, MediaCity, Manchester Airport and at sites Stratton owns in Oldham, Stockport and on Bury New Road in Manchester.

He told Insider: "We recognised early on that the local authorities would struggle to find the financial commitment in the current climate. We have secured the private sector finance. But this scheme wont work unless the locations work and contribute to the logistics of the network."

He also said there had been "considerable interest" in providing follow on funding for a further investment in a rollout of the business.

Stratton said the visibility of the charging stations would also serve to promote electric car usage around the city region. "I know that in reality 90 per cent of charging will be done at home, the pods will in reality be there as top ups, but they will also help people overcome 'range anxiety'."

Current battery life on models of electric vehicles is an average of 70 miles. Major motor manufacturers committed to the market include Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Peugeot and Renault.

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