John
04-16-2009, 08:47 AM
Consumers could receive incentives of between £2,000 and £5,000 to buy an electric car from 2011, the Government has announced.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said the initiative - part of the Government's low-carbon transport plan - would mean an electric car was "a real option for motorists".
He announced the five-year initiative with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, who said that low-carbon vehicles would play a key role in cutting emissions.
In the plan, announced in Scotland, consumer incentives would be introduced to coincide with the expected mass introduction of electric and plug-in hybrid (part electric, part petrol) cars to the market.
The plan is for consumers to receive help from the Government worth in the region of £2,000 to £5,000 to allow for the maximum choice of which car they buy.
The Department for Transport is beginning discussions with the motor industry and financiers to determine how best to deliver this assistance.
To be eligible cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.
Mr 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 five-year plan involves a £250m scheme to deliver a green motoring transformation and involves promoting the infrastructure and support technology and encouragement of manufacture in the UK that will place low-carbon transport at the centre of the Government's vision for the UK economy.
The two ministers were planning to drive a new Mini E electric vehicle in Dunfermline in Scotland to demonstrate the technology of low-carbon motoring.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said the initiative - part of the Government's low-carbon transport plan - would mean an electric car was "a real option for motorists".
He announced the five-year initiative with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, who said that low-carbon vehicles would play a key role in cutting emissions.
In the plan, announced in Scotland, consumer incentives would be introduced to coincide with the expected mass introduction of electric and plug-in hybrid (part electric, part petrol) cars to the market.
The plan is for consumers to receive help from the Government worth in the region of £2,000 to £5,000 to allow for the maximum choice of which car they buy.
The Department for Transport is beginning discussions with the motor industry and financiers to determine how best to deliver this assistance.
To be eligible cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.
Mr 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 five-year plan involves a £250m scheme to deliver a green motoring transformation and involves promoting the infrastructure and support technology and encouragement of manufacture in the UK that will place low-carbon transport at the centre of the Government's vision for the UK economy.
The two ministers were planning to drive a new Mini E electric vehicle in Dunfermline in Scotland to demonstrate the technology of low-carbon motoring.