F&I Management & Training

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised an environmentally friendly Budget on April 22 to kick start a 'green recovery' - including the mass introduction of electric cars on Britain's roads. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the Prime Minister trailed measures to make Britain a world leader in producing and exporting electric cars, hybrid petrol-electric vehicles and lighter cars using less petrol. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will announce in his Budget that trials for electric cars in two or three cities will begin next year. Mr Brown also said he would consider buying a fleet of electric cars for ministers to set an example. Councils will be invited to bid to become Britain's first 'green cities' and the Government will open talks with power companies to ensure the vehicles can have their batteries recharged at a national network of power points at the roadside. Pledging a raft of measures to ensure Britain emerges from the recession as a low carbon economy, the Prime Minister said the country could increase its output of environmental goods and services by 50 per cent to £1.5 billion in the next few years. He said: "This is a major part of our plan for recovery in the Budget." He added that the Government would provide incentives to help the car industry become a market leader across the world for electric and hybrid cars.

DATED: 09.04.09

FEED: AW