PM aims to boost 'greener' motoring with low carbon initiatives; Mayor announces electric initiative in London More news

Visiting the British Motor Show, the Prime Minister has set out plans to encourage the shift to low carbon and electric cars in the UK. Mr Brown reiterated that the Government plans to make £90m available for UK research, development and demonstration of low carbon vehicles over the next five years. In a separate development, the Mayor of London has announced plans to provide another 100 electric charging points across the city and to create a London-based Electric Vehicle Partnership.

The Prime Minister outlined details of the Government's plans to encourage the introduction of low carbon cars at a meeting with senior representatives of the energy and motoring industries at the Motor Show in London this morning.

The suggested measures include:

• Removing barriers in the planning system to the development of an electric charging network
• Collaborating with other countries on international industry standards
• A new study on issues relating to the development and commercialisation of electric cars
• Working with the National Grid and other stakeholders to assess the impact of widespread electric vehicle use
• In addition to £90m for RD&D, to provide an additional £20m to promote strategic public procurement of low carbon vehicles
• Accelerating pace of transition in public procurement such that within 3 years new car purchases for all Government departments average less than 130g/km

Meanwhile, Mayor Boris Johnson has announced plans to treble the number of charging locations in London and to develop an Electric Vehicle Partnership for the city. He also aims to encourage London’s Boroughs to reduce parking charges for electric cars.

An Electric Vehicle Partnership for London will also be created to encourage the car industry to accelerate the delivery of new technology and to increase the level of support for drivers of electric cars in the capital.

Speaking at the LowCVP Conference, the day after the Mayor's announcement, the GLA's new Director of Transport Policy, Kulveer Ranger, said: “We don’t want green cars to be seen as a lifestyle choice for eco warriors. We want them to be an attractive option for everyone. We want industry to help the public see that all makes and models from sports coupes to people carriers can be affordable and electric.

"We do understand that electricity is not the silver bullet to emissions. But we think it can greatly reduce CO2 emissions in London. The Electric Vehicle Partnership will aim to make driving an electric vehicle in London cheaper and easier. We want to fund more charging points and show manufacturers that our city is where they should accelerate the delivery of electric cars.”