This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7518683.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Brown drives green car revolution | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Gordon Brown has urged car makers to use their expertise to develop new cleaner vehicles and help Britain become a lower carbon economy. | |
Speaking at the British International Motor Show, the prime minister said rising oil costs opened up "huge opportunities" for a green revolution. | |
He also announced a raft of measures to encourage drivers to use electric and low carbon cars. | |
Cars of this type make up just over 1% of the UK's 26 million vehicles. | |
The prime minister opened the motor show at London's ExCel Exhibition Centre, where he also held talks with motor industry and energy chiefs. | |
He said road transport had reached an "historic turning point" and rising fuel prices created "huge opportunities for technological innovation and commercial change". | |
Clean future | |
"The rising cost of oil forces all of us to consider how to reduce our dependence on oil," he said. | |
"It's in a sense a once in a generation opportunity to transform our country to a clean energy future." | |
Mr Brown outlined measures aimed at assisting the changeover to low carbon and electric vehicles. | |
He said the government was working towards a situation where electric-powered cars could be charged in thousands of streets, and it would spend £90m over the next five years to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. | |
Business Secretary John Hutton and Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly were also at the meeting, where a possible timescale for the further introduction of electric and low carbon vehicles was discussed. | |
Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who attended the meeting, said everyone was "singing from the same song sheet". | |
"There is a recognition that we need to start now so we can introduce things in the next 10 to 15 years," he said. | |
The motor show runs from Wednesday 23 July to Sunday 3 August. |
Previous version
1
Next version