Telegraph.co.uk: Drivers of electric cars could use bus lanes and park for free under government plans.
Councils will be given millions of pounds in extra funding if they grant special privileges to drivers of electric vehicles, under a £500 million scheme to make drivers “feel confident” about buying them. It should be a “no-brainer” to own one, said Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister.
Every motorway service station is to have a charging point by the end of this year that can power a car for a 100-mile journey in 20 minutes. There are 500 more chargers planned in the next year.
The spending, from 2015 to 2020, will cut carbon emissions and create jobs, said Mr Clegg.
Local authorities will be able to bid for a share of £35 million in government funding if they come up with plans to encourage green travel, such as offering free parking and the freedom to drive in bus lanes.
A further £50 million will be offered to buy cleaner taxis and buses.
Officials believe Britons like the idea of driving an electric car in principle, and enjoy travelling in them as taxi passengers. However, they suffer from “range anxiety” – a fear they will be stranded if the car’s battery runs flat. Civil servants blame television shows such as Top Gear for showing footage of electric vehicles grinding to a halt.
The perks will not apply to owners of hybrid cars that run on a combination of petrol and electricity.
Drivers of ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEVs) are exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge. They are also eligible for a £5,000 grant to offset the higher cost of an electric vehicle.
Mr Clegg said: “Owning an electric car is no longer a dream or an inconvenience. Manufacturers are turning to this new technology to help motorists make their everyday journeys green and clean.
“This major investment is there to make driving an electric car affordable, convenient, and free from anxiety about the battery running out. But it’s also about creating a culture change in our towns and cities so that driving a greener vehicle is a no-brainer for most drivers.”
Richard Bruce, the head of the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles, said last week that applications for electric car grants had risen sevenfold in the past year, to 600 a month. However, he admitted initial estimates of the scheme’s popularity had been “wildly optimistic”.
Mr Bruce said: “This technology will only become normal when people see their neighbours plugging their car in to charge, see their colleagues driving one to work, or their friends booking a test drive.”
