Ministers are set to switch gas guzzlers for electric cars under a £5m cross-departmental initiative to reduce Whitehall's transport emissions.

 

The Ministry of Defence, Home Office, and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are among 15 government departments and agencies that will add 140 ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) to their fleets. The Government Car Service, which provides cars for ministers, will also adopt four ULEVs.

 

The vehicles include a "high number" of Toyota Prius, Nissan Leaf, and Mitsubishi Outlander plug-ins, as well as Kia Soul EVs and Volvo V60 hybrids, a Department of Transport spokesman said.

 

Rolling out electric cars across Whitehall marks the first phase of a project designed to illustrate the effectiveness of the vehicles, and encourage business and public sector fleets to commit to greater take-up of zero emission vehicles over the coming years.

 

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer added that adopting the cars is the right thing to do for the environment and the tax payer, as well as the UK automotive industry.

 

"This is an important step," she said. "These cars will save taxpayers money on running costs and will bring low emissions benefits to our fleet. Today's announcement proves that Britain is leading the electric charge while supporting the growth of this important industry."

 

The £5m initiative also funds wider take-up of ULEVs across the public sector, including councils, police forces, and the NHS and will enable the installation of charge points that will allow the vehicles to be charged at public sector sites.

 

The government is keen to establish the UK as a centre of low carbon vehicle technology. It has set aside £500m to accelerate the development of ULEVs, backed a £1bn Advanced Propulsion Centre, and launched a £10m prize for ideas to improve battery technology.

 

Last year, Cabinet Minister Oliver Letwin said charging points would be installed at Downing Street - just in case the Prime Minister fancies a spin.