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A new generation of electric public service vehicles, including postal vans, police vehicles and ministerial limousines is to be introduced as part of a government initiative to speed up the introduction of low-emission technology on Britain's roads.
A number of ministers, including Ed Miliband, the climate change secretary, are already chauffeured in petrol-electric hybrid cars, and all of the Department of Transport's official cars are hybrids. But plans unveiled yesterday will put green vehicles at the heart of the government's fleet. Around £20m will be available to provide electric and low-carbon vans to public sector organisations, including Royal Mail, the Metropolitan police, the Environment Agency and the government Car and Despatch Agency as well as councils around the country.
The announcements are part of a £100m proposal by the government to develop the technology and infrastructure needed to make electric and low-carbon cars a practical reality. As part of the plans, motorists will be able to test-drive demonstration models of the latest electric cars in locations around Britain from next year. Each car will need to keep within a maximum emission of 50g CO2/km. Drivers will be asked to report back on their experiences as part of a consultation.
In addition, around £30m will be used to develop research into electric vehicles. This includes work to make car designs more practical and affordable, as well as developments of more general technologies for vehicles that could deliver big carbon reductions in coming decades.
Around 22% of the UK's carbon emissions come from transport, with 13% of these from private cars.
Speaking yesterday at a meeting of international experts in electric car technology, the transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, said: "Electric cars and other low carbon vehicles, like plug-in hybrids, cut fuel costs and reduce harmful emissions. If we can inspire more people to use them, it will help us to make a positive impact on climate change."
The government signalled its intention to develop electric cars as part of its renewable energy strategy, published in July, which outlined how the UK could generate the increased power it needs in the coming decades while reducing overall carbon emissions.
"Van emissions are rising more than any other mode of road transport," said Hoon. "That's why we are committed to this new programme to help kick-start the market. In the public sector there is considerable demand for vans, so we want to use our spending power to lead the way in developing lower carbon options that will appeal across the board."
Greenpeace's senior transport campaigner, Anita Goldsmith, said: "Electrifying our transport network is a vital step in the fight against climate change and will be key to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, so it's very encouraging that the government has recognised this."
Friends of the Earth's senior transport campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said electric cars could be part of the solution to climate change. "To be truly green, electric cars should run on electricity generated through renewable sources of energy. The government's immediate priority must be ensuring the EU sets tough targets for emissions from new cars in the next few weeks. The UK has a pivotal role to play, and it must stand firm against the self-interested lobbying of the car industry."
Goldsmith said the government should introduce immediate practical measures, such as free parking and cheaper road tax, for people who go electric, as well as a renewed focus on improving public transport. "While £100m sounds like a lot, it's the same amount as the government spends on widening a mile and half of motorway. If ministers get this right then Britain's ailing car industry could become a trailblazer in this technology, creating thousands of jobs and exporting zero emission cars to developing countries."
The government said its electric car plan was part of a long-term plan to create up to 10,000 new green jobs in the UK. Officials said opportunities in the wider low carbon economy could see the creation of a million green jobs by 2030.
Power surge: The road to greener driving
• There are several models of electric car already on the market, from the ubiquitous Toyota Prius hybrid to the American all-electric Tesla sports car. The main problem preventing the uptake of electric vehicles in large numbers, however, is not the car technology itself but the power infrastructure required to make them practical.
• Local councils in London, including Westminster, Camden and Islington, have a few charging points for private electric cars and provide free parking. The cars are also exempt from the congestion charge. But the City of London withdrew free-parking privileges for electric cars this year, with the aim of discouraging all car use in the Square Mile, saying that reducing overall congestion was the most important issue.
• One potential solution, thought to be favoured by the government, is Project Better Place, an idea backed by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Shai Agassi. His company has raised more than £100m so far to set up a network of charging and battery-exchange stations in Israel by 2010.
Instead of plugging in their cars when out of power, drivers can pull into a recharging station to swap their flat battery for a fully charged one.
The cars, being developed by Renault-Nissan, are expected to have a range of 140 miles on a full charge with a top speed of 68mph.
Project Better Place has already announced plans for networks of electric cars in Denmark and Australia and is bidding to set one up in France.
- Travel and transport
- Carbon emissions
- Alternative energy
- Renewable energy
- Transport
- Green technology
- Green politics
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