Drivers who buy electric cars should
be given green badges providing free access to public car parks, toll
roads and congestion charge zones, it has been suggested.
The scheme would offer privileges in the same way as the blue badge scheme does for disabled motorists.
Local councils would finance the scheme by imposing higher parking fees on people who continue to drive petrol or diesel engine cars.
The proposal comes from the centre left think-tank, the IPPR, which argues substantial incentives are needed to encourage families and businesses to switch to electric vehicles.
The government already offers so-called plug in grants of up to £5,000 to reduce the price of electric cars bought for private use.
However, the IPPR argues more is needed to ensure a massive switch in driving habits if Britain is to meet targets to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases because demand for electric vehicles in the UK has stalled.
Just 3,342 plug-in electric vehicles were registered in the UK in 2011 and 2012, which amounts to a tiny 0.84 per cent of all vehicles registered over the same period.
The IPPR insists that Britain must create the right demand for electric cars in the UK through measures such as a green badge scheme in order to boost manufacturing.
A spokesman said: ‘The green badge scheme should mirror the current ‘blue badge’ scheme for disabled drivers run by local authorities, and provide benefits for drivers, boosting UK demand for ultra-low emission vehicles.
‘Drivers should receive a range of advantages, including free parking in public car parks and areas where a permit is needed.
‘They would be exempt from any city congestion charges such as the Durham congestion zone and be allowed to use toll roads, such as the, M6 Toll, the Severn Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, without charge.’
‘Local authorities would finance these privileges using parking fees charged to drivers of traditional vehicles.’
Despite apparent disinterest in electric cars, some 30 branded electric vehicles are scheduled to be available to consumers by 2014.
The new Nissan Leaf, made in Sunderland, has a range of 124 miles and a starting price of £15,990, based on the £5,000 government grant, while users will then pay a monthly fee starting at £70 to lease the battery.
The IPPR insists that electric cars are the future both for drivers in the UK and manufacturers based in this country.
Britain now has the fifth most competitive automotive industry in the world, in terms of the cost of making each vehicle, with the sector providing around one in 40 of all UK jobs.
Nissan has invested £275 million in the production of their Leaf model in this country. Toyota is producing engines for the Auris hybrid and the British firm Axeon is Europe’s largest independent supplier of the lithium-ion battery system that is used in this type of vehicle.
Apart from incentives to individual drivers, the IPPR says the Government, which spends more than £400million a year on vehicle, should take a lead.
It recommends that all new government vehicles should have emissions below 95g of CO2 per kilometre by 2020.
The IPPR figures show that a business or public sector owner could save £3,755 over a four year period by switching from a petrol fuelled Ford Focus Zetec S to an electric Nissan LEAF. The employee driving the vehicle could save £5,197 in fuel savings and tax benefits.
Associated director at the think-tank, Will Straw, said: ‘Britain is now in the elite of global car makers with the fifth most competitive automotive industry in the world, but demand for electric vehicles in the UK has fallen behind most other European countries and the US. Britain is on the starting grid but now it’s time to get moving.
‘Industry needs stability and support if it is to invest and make the UK a leading exporter of electric cars and other ultra low emission vehicles.’
A new RAC poll found as many as a quarter of drivers are likely to buy a ‘green car’ in the next five years. However, just one in 10 of these favoured a pure electric car and most expected to opt for a low-emission petrol or diesel.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: ‘The car is an essential part of everyday life in Britain so it is vital that its future is safeguarded by adopting the new low-carbon alternatives as they become available and affordable. In order for this to happen, consumers' perceptions of low-carbon vehicles must be changed.’
The scheme would offer privileges in the same way as the blue badge scheme does for disabled motorists.
Local councils would finance the scheme by imposing higher parking fees on people who continue to drive petrol or diesel engine cars.
The proposal comes from the centre left think-tank, the IPPR, which argues substantial incentives are needed to encourage families and businesses to switch to electric vehicles.
The government already offers so-called plug in grants of up to £5,000 to reduce the price of electric cars bought for private use.
However, the IPPR argues more is needed to ensure a massive switch in driving habits if Britain is to meet targets to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases because demand for electric vehicles in the UK has stalled.
Just 3,342 plug-in electric vehicles were registered in the UK in 2011 and 2012, which amounts to a tiny 0.84 per cent of all vehicles registered over the same period.
The IPPR insists that Britain must create the right demand for electric cars in the UK through measures such as a green badge scheme in order to boost manufacturing.
A spokesman said: ‘The green badge scheme should mirror the current ‘blue badge’ scheme for disabled drivers run by local authorities, and provide benefits for drivers, boosting UK demand for ultra-low emission vehicles.
‘Drivers should receive a range of advantages, including free parking in public car parks and areas where a permit is needed.
‘They would be exempt from any city congestion charges such as the Durham congestion zone and be allowed to use toll roads, such as the, M6 Toll, the Severn Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, without charge.’
The Nissan Leaf, made in Sunderland, has a range
of 124 miles and a starting price of £15,990, based on the £5,000
government grant
Despite apparent disinterest in electric cars, some 30 branded electric vehicles are scheduled to be available to consumers by 2014.
The new Nissan Leaf, made in Sunderland, has a range of 124 miles and a starting price of £15,990, based on the £5,000 government grant, while users will then pay a monthly fee starting at £70 to lease the battery.
Drivers of electric cars like the G Wiz should be given privileges such as free parking according to think-tank IPPR
Britain now has the fifth most competitive automotive industry in the world, in terms of the cost of making each vehicle, with the sector providing around one in 40 of all UK jobs.
Nissan has invested £275 million in the production of their Leaf model in this country. Toyota is producing engines for the Auris hybrid and the British firm Axeon is Europe’s largest independent supplier of the lithium-ion battery system that is used in this type of vehicle.
Apart from incentives to individual drivers, the IPPR says the Government, which spends more than £400million a year on vehicle, should take a lead.
David Bizley, technical director of RAC, said it is vital that the future of the car is safeguarded with low-carbon alternatives
The IPPR figures show that a business or public sector owner could save £3,755 over a four year period by switching from a petrol fuelled Ford Focus Zetec S to an electric Nissan LEAF. The employee driving the vehicle could save £5,197 in fuel savings and tax benefits.
Associated director at the think-tank, Will Straw, said: ‘Britain is now in the elite of global car makers with the fifth most competitive automotive industry in the world, but demand for electric vehicles in the UK has fallen behind most other European countries and the US. Britain is on the starting grid but now it’s time to get moving.
‘Industry needs stability and support if it is to invest and make the UK a leading exporter of electric cars and other ultra low emission vehicles.’
A new RAC poll found as many as a quarter of drivers are likely to buy a ‘green car’ in the next five years. However, just one in 10 of these favoured a pure electric car and most expected to opt for a low-emission petrol or diesel.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: ‘The car is an essential part of everyday life in Britain so it is vital that its future is safeguarded by adopting the new low-carbon alternatives as they become available and affordable. In order for this to happen, consumers' perceptions of low-carbon vehicles must be changed.’