Britain 'lagging behind Europe on electric cars'

Date: 30/9/2010

Britain's electric vehicle strategy is falling behind that of its European counterparts, according to one industry figure.

Wilfried Steffen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes UK, told What Car? heavy investment in electric vehicles by the car industry has not been matched by an adequate UK strategy, he explained.

Mr Steffen stated if more people are to buy electric cars, there needs to be a greater number of charging stations as there are almost none at present.

'There has been so much pressure on the car industry to develop these products … but in the UK there is still not the infrastructure there for anyone to realistically run one," he commented.

In comparison to France, which plans to introduce 3,000 hireable electric vehicles in Paris by next year, Britain needs to do far more, Mr Steffen remarked.

Earlier this week, the Hackney Gazette reported the installation of an electric vehicle charging point - the first in Hackney.

Posted by Nick Anderson