London 'to become Europe's electric car capital'

[Lord Beria3]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/gre ... pital.html

The "Source London" network will let motorists charge their vehicles for less than £100 a year. Currently, drivers with electric cars have to register with each borough they want to use charge points in.

The network was developed by the London mayor's Transport for London department in conjunction with the capital's borough authorities. It is liaising with other UK cities to ensure compatibility across the UK; TfL has offered them use of the trade-marked "Source" brand to create a national charging network with a single identity.

Mayor Boris Johnson recently confirmed a 100 per cent discount from the congestion charge for electric drivers in the capital, as well as for other low emission vehicles, offering a saving of up to £2,000 a year. "Already there are more electric drivers in London than anywhere else in the UK, but we are now entering an incredibly exciting period in electric motoring," said Mr Johnson. "Major manufacturers are gearing up to launch more affordable, practical electric cars over the next few years, whilst the cost of traditional fuels are making petrol-free driving an increasingly attractive option. By opting for electric in greater numbers, Londoners will also help to cut pollution levels and improve the city's quality of living.

"Through the development of Source London, we are seeking to create the fertile conditions for electric vehicles to flourish to make our city the electric driving capital of Europe," he added.

TfL says every major car manufacturer plans to release a new electric model over the next year. The mayor wants 100,000 electric vehicles on London streets "as soon as possible". A recent report by HSBC estimated that the global electric vehicle market could be worth £440billion by 2020, with the EU the biggest market.

However, critics say that the mayor has allocated less funding to the electric-car roll-out than was previously promised. According to Jenny Jones, of the London Assembly Green Party, Mr Johnson's action plan originally estimated that the scheme needed £60million of funding, but only around £24million of that has now been confirmed.

"It is disappointing to find that the mayor's project of electric vehicles is short on delivery and short on positive impacts," said Ms Jones. "He set a target of 25,000 electric charging points almost a year ago, but now we find that he will be delivering less than a third in the current mayoral term and he looks set to pass a bill onto the next mayor for some of the rest." TfL said it was working to secure additional external funding.

[JohnB]

At least gridlock of electric vehicles will be silent and pollution free .