Local authorities will be invited to bid to become Britain’s first ‘green cities’, as part of the prime minister’s attempt to kick-start the economy.
Gordon Brown has revealed that two or three cities will have the chance to take part in electric car trials beginning next year.
The initiative, to be announced in the 22 April Budget, aims to trigger the mass introduction of electric cars on to Britain’s roads.
Brown told The Independent newspaper that power companies would be approached to ensure the vehicles could be charged at a national network of power points at the roadside. He said the Government would provide incentives to help Britain’s car industry become a world leader in producing and exporting the electric vehicles.
Brown admitted he was considering a ‘scrappage’ scheme to reward motorists with up to £2,000 for trading in highly-polluting older vehicles for newer, ‘greener’ models. Meanwhile, London mayor, Boris Johnson, has challenged the Government to ‘put its money where its mouth is’ and back his plans to make the capital the electric car capital of Europe.
This week, Johnson outlined plans to see at least 100,000 electric vehicles on London’s streets as soon as possible. He plans to deliver 25,000 charging points in the city’s workplaces, retail outlets and car parks by 2015.
The cost of this is expected to reach £60M, of which the mayor has pledged to fund one-third, and is calling on government and the private sector to provide the rest.
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