DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (050) issued by COI News Distribution Service
on 16 April 2009
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.
Speaking today, Richard Parry-Jones, Chairman of the industry led
New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team (NAIGT) welcomed the announcement:
"The auto sector in the UK has transformed itself into a
world-class industry, with superb design and engineering skills,
very high productivity, product reliability that rivals the best
in the world, and flexible, constructive labour relations.
Today's announcement represents a major step towards
achieving the NAIGT's ambition of ensuring that the industry
in the UK can play a decisive global role in developing and
manufacturing exciting, low carbon vehicles for the future."
Notes to editors
1. Ultra Low-Carbon Vehicles in the UK - the challenge, can be
found here; http://www.hmg.gov.uk/lowcarbon
2. This strategy was launched at Knockhill Racing Circuit, by
Dunfermline, Fife, where ministers also drove the new Mini E
electric vehicle to demonstrate the technology of low carbon
motoring that consumers will enjoy in the future.
3. Consumer incentives will be introduced in 2011 to coincide
with the expected mass introduction of electric and plug in hybrid
cars to the market. Consumers will be able to receive help from
the Government worth in the region of £2000 - £5000 to allow for
the maximum choice of which car they buy. We are beginning
discussions with the automotive industry and financiers to
determine how best to deliver this help. To be eligible cars would
need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top
speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.
4. Through the Climate Change Act the UK has become the first
country in the world to adopt a legally binding emissions target.
Emissions from road vehicles account for 19% of the UK's
domestic CO2. This means transport will be able to play a major
part to reduce carbon emissions by at least 26% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
5. The Government launched its Low Carbon Industrial Strategy: A
vision on 6 March 2009, setting out the scope and ambition of the
Government's plans. The document outlined the
Government's ambition for the UK to be a world leader in low
carbon transport, especially at the forefront of development and
manufacture of low carbon automotive technology. For more
information visit http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/lowcarbon/index.html
6. The Government has already committed around £400 million of
support to encourage development and uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles.
* £23 million for the TSB Low Carbon Vehicle Innovation Platform
- phase 1
* £100 million for the TSB Low Carbon Vehicle
Integrated Delivery Programme
* £20 million for the DfT Low
Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement Programme
* £250 million for
the DfT EV consumer incentive package
7. The industry-led New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team
(NAIGT), was set up by BERR to ensure the car industry in the UK
plays a decisive global role in the low carbon vehicles of the future.
Public Enquiries: DfT 020 7944 8300; BERR 020 7215 5000
DfT Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk; BERR
Website: http://www.berr.gov.uk