The North East is driving forward in its aim to be a pioneering region for electric driving.

Thanks to the Government's Plugged In Places scheme, an initiative launched by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis in November 2009, the North East is certainly making the most of the funding, advice and trailblazing ideas available.

Regional Development Agency (RDA) One North East - which was established alongside eight other RDA's to transform key English regions through sustainable economic development - has been working in close co-operation with Plugged In Places to maximise the potential of the scheme.

The North East, encompassing Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and surrounding areas, is regarded as a forward thinking region in terms of supporting the use of low carbon vehicles. As part of the £30million Plugged In Places initiative, the district has started its plans to install 40 charging points for electric cars like the smart electric drive across Newcastle and Gateshead, with a further 619 region-wide points pledged by January 2011.

The latest part of the joint project has seen One North East urge major local businesses to pledge their support, with the added incentive of match-funding for installing additional charging points on their premises. This offer would mean an electric car charging point would cost only £2,500 to install instead of £5,000, giving a real boost to the ease of electric driving in the region.

Companies and organisations already signed up to the scheme include Tesco, green services company Eaga, Land Securities as well as the councils of Durham, Stockton and South Tyneside.

One North East's head of strategic economic change Chris Pywell commented, "This is an excellent financial opportunity for regional businesses and organisations. If our bid is successful, the funding would strengthen the region's position as a leading location for electric car technology and for the development of a national charging infrastructure."

For more information on the smart electric drive, click here.