Government backs electric cars

The UK Government has given a boost to low carbon transport this week by pledging to offer buyers an incentive of between £2000 and £5000 towards the first plug in electric cars, which are expected to be available within two years. The commitment ties in with recent indications from the Government that low carbon transport would be placed at the centre of its economic policies, as well as its established position on the green agenda.

The lack of a coherent infrastructure to support widespread usage of electric cars has long been seen as the stumbling block to the technology gaining mass popularity, but this key issue is also included in the Government’s support package. Some £20m worth of electric “charging points” will be

"Cutting road transport CO2 emissions is a key element to tackling climate change. Less than 0.1% of the UK's 26 million cars are electric, so there is a huge untapped potential to reduce emissions,” said Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon. “The scale of incentives we're announcing today will mean that an electric car is a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low carbon transport."