Right Honourable Eco-Drivers

Minsiters join in the eco-driving craze and promote the use of carbon friendly vehicles in London.

A selection of ministeres joined up to showcase the newset offerings of electric and low carbon motoring in London. Transport Minister Lord Adonis and Science minister Lord Drayson both galavanted around in some stylish designs.

Lord Adonis driving a Smart car, was joined by Lord Drayson, who drove a Mini E model. The Mini E will be tested in Oxford, in one of eight trials in Britain in which members of the public and businesses will be invited to take part.

Other areas where tests will take place include Glasgow, Coventry, Birmingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Oxford. Cars being tested include a Ford Focus battery electric vehicle, Nissan vehicles and Peugeot electric cars. The Government is putting £25 million into the project which is being organised by the Technology Strategy Board.

Lord Adonis said:

"People have doubted that electric and ultra-low carbon vehicles would come on to the market soon but they are available and the public will be able to drive them."

"We hope it will only be a short period of time before these vehicles come on to the market. We want Britain to be at the forefront of ultra-low carbon automotive technology, blazing a trail for environmentally friendly transportation."

Lord Drayson commented:

"This is the world's largest ever trial of electric vehicles."

He added that it was important that hard data on just how the vehicles worked and were driven was gathered in.

"If we can make the UK the best place to do the research and development into these vehicles, we can help secure the future of the UK motor industry," he said. Iain Gray, the Technology Strategy Board chief executive, said:

"The journey towards low-carbon transport will not be easy but the demonstrator programme which we are launching is a major step in the right direction."

Edmund King, president of AA said the announcement was "a great leap forward on the road to a lower-carbon future", while Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Paul Everitt said ultra-low carbon vehicles were "now mainstream business for the motor industry".

With electric vehicles costing so little per mile, I don’t think the public will mind these two minsters claiming the milage back on expenses.

E. Dooley

24/06/2009