Government to
help motorists and industry get
on the low carbon road
Business
Secretary Peter Mandelson and
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon
today launched the Government's
vision to promote ultra low
carbon transport over the next
five years.
Central to the
strategy is an initiative to
help put electric cars into the
reach of ordinary motorists by
providing help worth £2000 -
£5000 towards buying the first
electric and plug in hybrid cars
when they hit the showrooms -
which we expect from 2011
onwards.
The Government has recently
committed to placing low carbon
transport at the centre of its
vision for the UK economy.
Today's announcement will
promote infrastructure and
support technology development
and encourage manufacture in the
UK, whilst incentivising
consumers.
This funding is included in a
£250 million scheme to deliver a
green motoring transformation,
part of the wider Government
support to help consumers and
businesses make the transition
to low carbon.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon
said; "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.
"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."
The strategy also
includes plans to provide £20
million for charging points and
related infrastructure to help
develop a network of 'electric
car cities' throughout the UK
and an expansion of an electric
and ultra-low carbon car
demonstration project on the
UK's roads. This project will
mean over 200 motorists
throughout the country will have
the opportunity to drive a
cutting-edge car and feedback
the information needed to make
greener motoring an everyday
reality.
Business Secretary Peter
Mandelson said; "Britain has
taken a world lead in setting
ambitious targets for carbon
reduction. Low carbon vehicles
will play a key role in cutting
emissions. Government must act
now to ensure that the business
benefits of this ambition are
realised here in the UK. We want
the British motor industry to be
a leader in the low carbon
future, and Government must
direct and support this, through
what I call new industrial
activism."
The Government has already
committed around £400 million of
support to encourage development
and uptake of ultra-low emission
vehicles. This is in addition to
a £2.3bn package of support for
the automotive sector in the
downturn that has been
specifically designed to support
the development of green
technologies to provide
solutions for carbon reduction
and a world leading low carbon
automotive industry.
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