Friday 3 January 2014

Ministerial cars to go electric?

Government ministers could be whizzing around Westminster in electric cars if rumours are to be believed.

Members of the Cabinet are keen to set an example for the rest of the public sector, an unnamed Whitehall source told the Evening Standard.

The source said: “Why shouldn’t the ministerial car fleet become one of the first test-beds for the widespread roll-out of electric cars?”

DECC ministers already use green cars, with Energy Secretary Ed Davey and Energy Minister Greg Barker often spotted out and about in vehicles from the Green Tomato eco-taxi company. Around 20 Toyota Prius hybrid cars are in the Government's fleet of cars.

Last September, the Department for Transport announced £500 million worth of funding to help the UK reach a point where every new car sold is an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) by 2040.