Government pledges £24m to development of electric cars

Date: 17/9/2010

The UK electric vehicle market has received a £24 million boost from the government as it announced plans for new projects and a Plug-in Car Grant.

Winners of the latest Technology Strategy Board competition - including plans to develop new engines for the hybrid versions of Nissan, Lotus and Jaguar Land Rover cars - are set to receive a total of £52 million in funding, including money pledged by other organisations.

In addition, the coalition has outlined the criteria for its new vehicle grant, under which motorists will receive up to £5,000 towards the purchase of an electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen-fuelled car.

The vehicles must meet certain safety standards and have been crash tested in order to qualify.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond commented: "We are on the brink of a technological revolution that will transform the way we see motoring in the 21st century."

The East Anglian Daily Times recently reported that two electric vehicle charging stations could soon be installed in Bury St Edmunds.

Posted by Nick Anderson