Electric car drivers will get to use bus lanes and charging points will be installed across the city as part of plans to get Nottingham drivers out of petrol vehicles.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced the measures as part of £6m given to the city to make it a low emission zone.
Most major manufacturers are now developing or selling electric vehicles, and officials hope improving infrastructure will boost uptake.
Mr McLoughlin said: “When any new form of transport there is first scepticism, there is then ‘what’s it about?’ and then there’s acceptance of it.
“The truth is that last year we saw 30,000 registrations of electric vehicles, which is up on the previous year’s 15,000.”
He added the growth would create a second-hand electric vehicle market which would further increase demand.
Electric vehicles have begun to interest manufacturers as the range and power of vehicles improves.
Charging can now be done at home or on the road over several hours or in around 40 minutes with a booster system.
Charging is the first barrier people face
Councillor Alan Clark, Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for energy said: “Charging is the first barrier people face, they’re not clear whether they are going to be able to charge when they are our and about.
“Putting in a decent set of charging points is important and we’re looking at the idea of at least some of our bus lanes being shared with electric vehicles.”
More than 200 charging points will be installed, adding to an exisiting network which includes points at the Victoria Centre, supermarkets and some petrol stations.
