Plans for 100,000 Electric Cars in London

The Mayor of London has proposed to fill the streets of London with electric car technology.

In so doing, he plans for London, the capital of England, to become Europe’s top city for electric cars, with 100,000 of them actively being driven around it.

To have this up and running would cost £60 million pounds – an amount that the Mayor, Boris Johnson, has pledged to fund a third of, while requesting that the British government makes up the balance and, thus, show that it supports the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies.

“The time for simply talking about electric vehicles is over – we need real action on the ground to make the electric vehicle an easy choice for Londoners”, Mayor Johnson stated.

“I am today committing millions to install the infrastructure needed for when, in just a few years time, these vehicles become much more widely available.”

Electric Car Charging Stations

In order to support the running of so many electric cars, London itself would need to be specially adapted.  Electric car charging stations would need to be established and – with this in mind – the Mayor simultaneously proposed that all new structures going up in the City from now on have such facilities built into them, with a minimum of 20 per cent of new parking spaces to have them put in place also.

The London congestion charge levied on motor vehicles travelling through London’s designated CCZ  (Congestion Charge Zone) does not presently apply to electric cars, which come under the heading of 'alternative fuel vehicles'.  Today’s plan sees this feature being continued.

“This is an unprecedented package of measures to make London the electric car capital of Europe”,  Johnson continued.

“By taking these steps, we will not only create green collar jobs, but also smooth the way for less polluting transport choices which will improve our air quality, reduce traffic noise and contribute significantly to my carbon emissions reduction target.

“It is time for the government to put its money where its mouth is and back my plan to make electric vehicles the first choice for Londoners.”

Last month, US President Barack Obama said that $2.4 million would be invested into developing new electric car technology, simultaneously challenging other nations to try and keep up with the US, in effect.

Obama foresees one million electric cars being driven around the US within the next six years.

A number of prominent global car manufacturers have plans to bring electric cars to the marketplace:  General Motors, Ford and Nissan to name but three.