Chargemaster Plc announced last month that it was rolling out its Chargevision back-end management system technology to both Oxford and Milton Keynes, enabling EV drivers to charge their cars there with a single RFID smart access card in any of 74 EV charging bays.

Now the scheme is being extended to include charging points in Cambridge and also in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London, and Chargemaster says it's actively working with other cities including London and the new Plugged in Place locations to roll out the infrastructure further.

The Chargevision system gives motorists real-time access to a real time map showing where charge posts are and whether they are available. The system allows councils to view real time information across all of the charging points, including the ability to measure the electricity used, forecast future usage and monitor and identify busy times.

The news comes as Southern Electric Power Distribution, part of Scottish and Southern Electric, announces the installation of 14 public charging bays in Hillingdon. The borough is the centre of a major government-funded Ford demonstration project for EVs and the new bays, supplied by Chargemaster, will support the Ford Electric Vehicle Project and other EV users. 

David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster, said: ‘Interoperability between cities is something which will greatly contribute to the government’s carbon reduction plans by making electric vehicles more usable. There has been some criticism of lack flexibility in operating EVs and interoperability between cities is crucial. 

'The Chargevision scheme allows EV users more peace of mind when travelling and the increased number of bays means they can now charge their cars while out shopping or visiting a leisure centre. Chargemaster is pleased to provide the advanced technology to make such schemes operate successfully and thereby help make low-carbon motoring a really practical transport choice for environmentally concerned individuals and companies.'