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Plan to boost electric car sales Plan to boost electric car sales
(about 1 hour later)
Motorists will be offered subsidies of up to £5,000 to encourage them to buy electric or plug-in hybrid cars under plans announced by the government.Motorists will be offered subsidies of up to £5,000 to encourage them to buy electric or plug-in hybrid cars under plans announced by the government.
It is part of the government's £250m plan to promote low carbon transport over the next five years.It is part of the government's £250m plan to promote low carbon transport over the next five years.
But ministers do not expect the cars to hit the showrooms until 2011. But ministers do not expect eligible cars to hit the showrooms until 2011.
The car industry welcomed the plan, but critics said the government needed to invest more in places to recharge the vehicles and in public transport.The car industry welcomed the plan, but critics said the government needed to invest more in places to recharge the vehicles and in public transport.
The strategy includes plans to provide £20m for charging points and other necessary infrastructure. At present they are very limited.The strategy includes plans to provide £20m for charging points and other necessary infrastructure. At present they are very limited.
'Next generation''Next generation'
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said that there was huge potential to reduce emissions, with less than 0.1% of the UK's 26 million cars now electric.Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said that there was huge potential to reduce emissions, with less than 0.1% of the UK's 26 million cars now electric.
HAVE YOUR SAYRunning cars on electricity is an exceptionally good idea if we could produce the electricity in a green and carbon free mannerMichael, Doncaster, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYRunning cars on electricity is an exceptionally good idea if we could produce the electricity in a green and carbon free mannerMichael, Doncaster, UK Send us your comments
The available funding would only be for fully electric and plug-in petrol-electric hybrids. As such, currently commercially available hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, would not be eligible.The available funding would only be for fully electric and plug-in petrol-electric hybrids. As such, currently commercially available hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, would not be eligible.
There is a limited range of electric vehicles currently available, and sales have been held back by a number of factors: They commonly have a limited range of about 40 miles, take about seven hours to charge, and have only two seats.There is a limited range of electric vehicles currently available, and sales have been held back by a number of factors: They commonly have a limited range of about 40 miles, take about seven hours to charge, and have only two seats.
Jorn Madslien, business reporter, BBC News The future of electric motoring is no longer remote. Modern lithium-ion batteries have already been installed in prototype cars, such as the Mini E, which handles like an ordinary car and offers a range of 150 miles. But the batteries are huge, so the car has no back seats. Plug-in petrol-electric hybrids will soon offer five-seat alternatives. In these, a petrol engine takes over once the battery has run out. This is the solution favoured by Toyota. Alternatively, a small petrol engine charges the battery whilst driving - the General Motors solution. Either way, in the future motorists will increasingly buy power from electricity companies rather than from the oil industry. The future of electric motoring Q&A: Electric cars Jorn Madslien, business reporter, BBC News The future of electric motoring is no longer remote. Modern lithium-ion batteries have already been installed in prototype cars, such as the Mini E, which handles like an ordinary car and offers a range of 150 miles. But the batteries are huge, so the car has no back seats. Plug-in petrol-electric hybrids will soon offer five-seat alternatives. In these, a petrol engine takes over once the battery has run out. This is the solution favoured by Toyota. Alternatively, a small petrol engine charges the battery whilst driving - the General Motors solution. Either way, in the future motorists will increasingly buy power from electricity companies rather than from the oil industry. The future of electric motoring Q&A: Electric cars class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/">How green are electric cars?
But the government hopes to target drivers of a new generation of all electric or plug-in petrol-electric cars, which are expected to go on sale in two years time.But the government hopes to target drivers of a new generation of all electric or plug-in petrol-electric cars, which are expected to go on sale in two years time.
Speaking at a racing circuit in Dunfermline, Geoff Hoon said the plan was about "encouraging the idea that electric vehicles will become part of everyday life, that people will take them for granted and they will look and feel the same as any other car".Speaking at a racing circuit in Dunfermline, Geoff Hoon said the plan was about "encouraging the idea that electric vehicles will become part of everyday life, that people will take them for granted and they will look and feel the same as any other car".
Jay Nagley, an analyst at Spyder Automotive, said the announcement was very significant for the car industry.Jay Nagley, an analyst at Spyder Automotive, said the announcement was very significant for the car industry.
"The big problem is that the next generation of electric cars will initially be very expensive to make - manufacturers say about double the price of a petrol car," he told the BBC."The big problem is that the next generation of electric cars will initially be very expensive to make - manufacturers say about double the price of a petrol car," he told the BBC.
"Without subsidies nobody will buy them, so manufacturers won't be able increase production and get the price down.""Without subsidies nobody will buy them, so manufacturers won't be able increase production and get the price down."
Mr Nagley added that by 2020 about a quarter of all cars sold could be electric.Mr Nagley added that by 2020 about a quarter of all cars sold could be electric.
"They won't be solely electric cars but hybrid cars, which can run for 40 miles before the petrol engine kicks in.""They won't be solely electric cars but hybrid cars, which can run for 40 miles before the petrol engine kicks in."
How green?How green?
Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth said that financial support for electric cars was a step in the right direction but said investment in public transport was also needed.Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth said that financial support for electric cars was a step in the right direction but said investment in public transport was also needed.
The Labour plan announced today is like giving people a grant to buy an internal combustion engine, without bothering to set up any petrol stations George Osborne, shadow chancellorThe Labour plan announced today is like giving people a grant to buy an internal combustion engine, without bothering to set up any petrol stations George Osborne, shadow chancellor
"Electric cars are only as green as the electricity they run on - ministers must do far more to boost the UK's flagging renewable energy industry," said the group's transport campaigner Tony Bosworth."Electric cars are only as green as the electricity they run on - ministers must do far more to boost the UK's flagging renewable energy industry," said the group's transport campaigner Tony Bosworth.
"Low carbon vehicles are certainly part of the future, but more extensive measures are needed to make the necessary cuts in transport emissions. Far more must be done to get people out of their cars by making public transport, cycling and walking more attractive options," he added."Low carbon vehicles are certainly part of the future, but more extensive measures are needed to make the necessary cuts in transport emissions. Far more must be done to get people out of their cars by making public transport, cycling and walking more attractive options," he added.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne said that the government's announcement lacked detail on the measures needed to make electric cars a mainstream reality.Shadow chancellor George Osborne said that the government's announcement lacked detail on the measures needed to make electric cars a mainstream reality.
He said more information was needed on how the higher demand for electricity would be managed and on how a national network of car charging points would be created.He said more information was needed on how the higher demand for electricity would be managed and on how a national network of car charging points would be created.
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Toyota engineer Gerald Killmann test drives a prototype plug-in petrol-electric hybrid car unveiled last yearToyota engineer Gerald Killmann test drives a prototype plug-in petrol-electric hybrid car unveiled last year
"The Labour plan announced today is like giving people a grant to buy an internal combustion engine, without bothering to set up any petrol stations," he said."The Labour plan announced today is like giving people a grant to buy an internal combustion engine, without bothering to set up any petrol stations," he said.
Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary, Norman Baker, said the government scheme was a gimmick that would only benefit the few.Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary, Norman Baker, said the government scheme was a gimmick that would only benefit the few.
"Discounts on electric cars are all very well for those who can afford to buy a new car but it cannot hide the fact that the Government has forced up rail fares and destroyed many local bus services," he said."Discounts on electric cars are all very well for those who can afford to buy a new car but it cannot hide the fact that the Government has forced up rail fares and destroyed many local bus services," he said.
Trade-in schemeTrade-in scheme
Government incentives to stimulate the sales of cars are spreading.Government incentives to stimulate the sales of cars are spreading.
In a separate initiative, Chancellor Alistair Darling is expected to reveal an incentive scheme for motorists to trade old cars in for new ones in next week's Budget.In a separate initiative, Chancellor Alistair Darling is expected to reveal an incentive scheme for motorists to trade old cars in for new ones in next week's Budget.
This could provide £2,000 for car owners to trade in their old cars to buy new ones.This could provide £2,000 for car owners to trade in their old cars to buy new ones.
The plan is designed to boost demand for new cars and help struggling carmakers who are suffering during the recession.The plan is designed to boost demand for new cars and help struggling carmakers who are suffering during the recession.
Similar schemes have proved successful in continental Europe. In Germany, for example, car sales increased by 40% in March compared with a year earlier.Similar schemes have proved successful in continental Europe. In Germany, for example, car sales increased by 40% in March compared with a year earlier.