Johnson challenges government over electric car scheme

Johnson: angry

A scheme to make London one of three UK cities to pioneer electric cars became a political battlefield today after Boris Johnson challenged the Government to 'put its money where its mouth is' and back his plan.

Johnson was reportedly fuming after Gordon Brown yesterday jumped the gun on what was supposed to be a joint announcement, revealing the electric car scheme in an interview with the Independent.

The mayor had discussions with transport secretary Geoff Hoon and business secretary Peter Mandelson throughout January, February and March.

A letter from Johnson to Hoon leaked to political blogger Iain Dale and published on his web site said: "As you know I want to make London the EV capital of Europe. I am sure that by working in partnership together we can deliver significant benefits at a regional and a national level."

Gordon Brown yesterday announced the scheme for two or three cities but did not mention London or City Hall's co-operation and said more information would be announced in the Budget on 22 April.

Mayor Boris Johnson today provided a more detailed layout of the plan as it relates to London and in a thinly disguised swipe at the Prime Minister said: " 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. 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."

The initiatives outlined by the mayor's office aims to get at least 100,000 electric vehicles on the capital’s streets as soon as possible, some five per cent of total vehicles.

City Hall will work with businesses, boroughs and other public sector organisations to deliver 25,000 charging spaces in London’s workplaces, retail outlets, streets, public car parks and station car parks by 2015 with 20 per cent of all new car parking spaces being equipped with charging points.

It will also convert at least 1,000 Greater London Authority fleet vehicles to electric power by 2015, and exempt all electric vehicles from the congestion charge.

A spokesman for the Mayor's Office said, "The estimated cost of this is £60m and the Mayor has committed £20m today."

Johnson today called on government and the private sector to plug the £40m funding gap and said he will be lobbying for some of the £250m the government has committed to developing electric vehicles in the UK.