§ Lord Dormerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they plan to take to encourage the development of electrically-propelled vehicles, especially for shorter journeys; and what contribution they consider such vehicles could make to the control of pollution.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)The Government are considering what role electric vehicles and other possible alternatives might play in minimising transport emissions. As part of this effort, the Department of Transport is leading a collaborative trial of alternative fuels involving, among others, electric vans and buses. This will help quantify the environmental benefits and the viability of their use.
If viable electric vehicles were available and used in sufficient numbers, particularly for short journeys, such vehicles would make a significant contribution to the control of urban transport emissions at the expense of increased emissions from electricity generation. Using statistics compiled by the London Area Transport Survey in 1991, the department estimates that, if electric cars were used for all journeys less than 10km (6 miles), urban car emissions could fall by around 20 per cent. To put this in context, progressive tightening of emission limits for new vehicles is expected to reduce urban transport emissions by around 65 per cent., using much more cost effective technology. The Government believe that this approach, which allows manufacturers to decide on how best to meet tighter limits, will continue to be the primary means of bringing new technology to the market and further reducing transport pollution.