NEW electric vehicle charging points have been installed in Oxford.

The city's first 50kW chargers were installed at an Oxford Direct Services depot.

The company, which carries out work for Oxford City Council, can now charge its electric vehicles to 80 per cent battery capacity in just 40 minutes.

The council says the charging points are a 'major milestone' in a £41m project which will also see the trialling of the world's largest (50MW) hybrid battery system.

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This will aim to support Oxford’s electric vehicle charging capacity and fleets, and to power ground-source heat pumps for residential properties.

The Energy Superhub Oxford project, as it is called, will be partly privately financed, but has also received £10m Government investment.

As well as the new 50kW chargers installed at the depot on Marsh Road, a further 32 fast 22kW chargers have also been installed, marking another milestone in the project.