Britain's electric car -- fantasy or cure?

• Source: xinhua
• [14:50 April 19 2009]
• Comments

CAUTIOUS SUPPORT

London Mayor Boris Johnson urged the government to back his ambitious plans to make London the electric car capital of Europe.

 He said the initiative would create jobs, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. The mayor has also pledged to exempt electric cars from the London congestion charge. In addition, he has called for all new parking spaces to be equipped with charging points.

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said that while charging points were needed in towns across the country, it was important that the electricity generated to supply them came from more ecological sources.

It was a point echoed by Shadow energy secretary Ray Clark. He urged the government to put more efforts into low-carbon electricity generation. "If people used the current electricity grid to charge these electric vehicles, there'd be more emissions," Clark said.

When it came to funding, Osborne was also critical since Britain is already deeply in debt due to the recession.

"There's no detail about how any of this will be funded," Osborne said. "It increasingly appears that the prime minister is again talking about imaginary money, from an imaginary budget."

But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has dismissed the critics.

"Cutting road transport CO2 emissions is a key element to tackling climate change," he said, "Less than 0.1 percent of the UK's 26 million cars are electric, so there is a huge untapped potential to reduce emissions."

 The minister said that because of the scale of incentives being announced, electric cars will be a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low carbon transportation.

 BOOST TO CAR INDUSTRY

Under the initiative, consumers wishing to buy electric or hybrid vehicles will be eligible for a grant of between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds (2,992 and 7,479 US dollars).

The G-Wiz can cost between 8,000 and 15,000 pounds (11,967 and 22,438 dollars) and critics have questioned how much of an incentive the grant would be.

Those in the motor trade, however, have broadly welcomed the plans.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the government had shown its commitment to developing a market for ultra-low carbon vehicles in Britain.

However, he said that British design, research & development and manufacturing should be at the heart of what he called a growing industry.

"The motor industry is in the middle of its greatest economic challenge, and immediate action to preserve the British sector in the short-term is essential if we are to stake our claim in the global development of low carbon technology for the future," Everitt said.

"GREEN CAR REVOLUTION"

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced plans for Britain to be at the forefront of a "green car revolution" during his speech at the Group of Eight industrial nations in 2008.

 He suggested that by 2020, all new cars sold in Britain could be electric or hybrid vehicles producing less than 100g/km of carbon dioxide.

This week, business secretary Mandelson repeated the prime minister's vision, saying, "We in Britain need to lead this revolution."

 But the government's plans are already falling behind those of other countries. Later this year, China is set to launch a family electric car, the E6, which is seen by its manufacturer, BYD Auto, as a solution to global warming.

The E6 also is expected to put China on the map as a major car manufacturer as it extends its reach into Europe as early as 2010.

Since the E6 has a top speed of 160 km/h and a range of 300 km, other manufacturers will have a lot to live up to.

Brown this week has pledged to inject money into companies such as Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover to get electric cars rolling off the production line by 2011. But some think it may prove to be too little and too late.