THE plan to install electric car charging points across the North East moved rapidly ahead yesterday when supermarkets and shopping centres were named as locations for 'fill-up' stations.

Collaborations with Tesco, British Gas, Capital Shopping Centres, CE Electric UK and the AA were also announced as the move towards mass production of electric cars in the region gathered pace.

More than 750 stations will be opened over the next two years as part of development agency One North East’s £30m plan to base the country’s future car industry in the region. Charging points will be installed at locations including Gateshead’s MetroCentre and Eldon Square in Newcastle, as well as at Tesco supermarket complexes.

The first 40 are already being installed on Tyneside.

The high-profile locations have been targeted for charging points as the region moves towards a low-carbon economy, with the huge investment part of ONE’s bold plans for the future.

If everything goes to plan, thousands of jobs will be created and thousands more safeguarded over the next decade.

But if major companies such as Nissan decide that regardless of this, they will not manufacture the new electric cars in the region, it may mean public money spent on charging points will only help them sell their cars with little economic gain for the North East.