CAR giant Nissan has jumped to the defence of the region’s barely used electric vehicle charging points.

As revealed in The Northern Echo today (Tuesday, June 24), nine charging points in County Durham have been used on fewer than ten occasions since they were installed between 2010 and 2013 – and two have been used just twice, putting the cost of each re-charge at between £2,800 and £4,000.

But Nissan, which employs 7,000 people and makes its Leaf electric vehicle and batteries for its e-NV200 vans on Wearside, said it was important to remember the technology was relatively new.

“There are a handful of charge points that aren’t being used but... as more customers switch to electric vehicles we learn more about the best types of chargers for different locations,” a spokesman said.

He also said there had been a “distinct shift” in the electric vehicle market, with Leaf sales doubling since last year.

A total of 740 public charging points were installed across the region under the Plugged in Places project between 2010 and 2013, with the bill split between national government and local councils.

By last December, those points had been used more than 43,000 times; and Colin Herron, managing director of Zero Carbon Futures, said the investment had wider economic benefits and the region’s commitment had contributed to Nissan’s decision to build the Leaf and its battery plant at Washington.

Jonathan Walker, head of member relations at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said local councils were to be applauded for what he said was a “relatively small investment” and the charging points would become “invaluable in helping our region remain at the forefront of electric vehicle development”.

However, Dia Chakravarty, political director at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said it was very difficult to see how the barely-used points could be value for taxpayers’ money.

“At a time when hard-pressed families are struggling to make ends meet, residents will be right to question whether the council has got its priorities right,” she said.

Meanwhile, resident Peter Sheavills questioned Durham County Council’s figures, saying he had used Stanley’s Scott Street charging point, said to have been used just four times, up to 80 times in the past year alone.