Electric car boost for London

Another 100 will be provided, almost trebling the amount in the capital in a bid to increase the use of electric cars.

An Electric Vehicle Partnership for London will also be created to encourage the car industry to accelerate the delivery of new environmentally-friendly technology.

Announcing the new innovations at the Low Carbon Vehicle Conference in London, Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor’s Director of Transport Policy, said: “We don’t want green cars to be seen as a lifestyle choice for eco warriors.

“We want them to be an attractive option for everyone. We want industry to help the public see that all makes and models – from sports coupes to people carriers – can be affordable and electric.”

Professor Ed Gallagher, chair of the Renewable Fuels Agency, also updated delegates on the progress of introducing biofuels to petrol under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).

“At the moment, between 1.5 and 2% of the fuel in our fuel tanks is biofuels,” he said. “It’s virtually all biodiesel.

“50% is from the US. 10% we have no idea where it comes from. That’s much better than we thought it was going to be.

“I think vendors have begun to realise the repercussions and the issues if the public asks ‘Where do you get your biofuels from?’ and they say ‘We don’t know’.”

The conference was held alongside the opening day of this year’s British Motor Show, which featured a dedicated section for green cars, including the show’s first Electric Vehicle Village.

As well as more established electric car companies such as NICE, the village also featured more surprising finds such as the electric Tesla Roadster.

Elsewhere in the green driving pavilion, eco-friendly motorists could get a close-up look at the winner of the What Car? Green Awards, the Ford Focus 1.6 TCDi Style, and examine the Lotus Eco Elise, which featured body panels made from hemp and solar panels in the roof.

Kate Martin