Electric car charging points are being lobbied for to encourage green motoring in the Fens.

The news comes as a local Nissan dealership has donated a number of rapid charging points to the Fenland area.

North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay has test driven the latest electric car at the J S Holmes dealership in Wisbech St Mary and said he supported environmentally friendly electric motoring.

“Electric cars are a fast growing market. They offer commercial opportunities for local car dealers, cheaper running costs, and the scope to attract motorists into local shops whilst their cars are being recharged. Yet at present, Fenland, unlike Peterborough, does not have any rapid recharging points for electric cars. I am keen to change this.

“The Nissan cars currently have a range of just over 90 miles, but can be 80% recharged within just 30 minutes to extend their range.

“The only electric charging point I am aware of locally is at the College of West Anglia campus, but this is only for the use of staff and students and not accessible to the public at weekends when the college is closed.”

Nissan have agreed to donate a number of rapid charging points to the constituency, each valued at £10,000.

The next step is to cover the installation costs, at £20,000 each, which may be available from Government body, the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles.

“Our area has never previously applied for a grant. I think we should, and having the donation from Nissan will significantly strengthen our case in winning this money<�” Mr Barclay said.

The next round of the grants is for the period 2015-2020.

Mr Barclay has written to Fenland District Council and East Cambridgeshire District Council to ask them to consider making bids for Littleport, Whittlesey, Wisbech, March and Chatteris to host rapid electric car recharging points.

He said: “Whilst the demand for electric charging points is still limited it is important our area is not left behind with this new technology.

“Residents in future may want to benefit from the 2p a mile cost of running an electric car compared to a conventional car’s 15-to-20p mileage cost, but they may be reluctant to buy such a car if they cannot recharge it whilst driving around Fenland.”