The Ashes

If you live in the UK and love electric cars, then you will be a very happy person as the UK Government has announced today that they will offer grants for electric cars. The Government is looking to dramatically reduce CO2-emissions, and they will offer between £2,000 to £5,000 ($3,000 and $7,500) in incentives if you buy an electric or hybrid car.

The UK Government says that they are willing to invest £250 million in eco-friendly cars in order to cut-down carbon dioxide emissions, and to help the British motor industry. A spokesperson for the U.K.’s Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform announced that the grants will be available as of 2011 when new electric and hybrid cars are expected to enter on the market. Also, he said that they are working on a plan with car manufacturers in order to determine the best way to concede the incentives.

“The scale of incentives we’re announcing today will mean that an electric car is a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the U.K. a world leader in low carbon transport,” said Geoff Hoon, UK’s Transport Secretary.

According to Peter Mandelson, Government’s Business Secretary, the UK is looking to become the world leading green cars manufacturer and exporter, but he also said that the UK will build several wind farms across the country. This will be possible thanks to a £20 million budget for an eco-friendly infrastructure in the UK.

“Low carbon vehicles will play a key role in cutting emissions. We want the British motor industry to be a leader in the low carbon future, and government must direct and support this, through what I call new industrial activism,” said Mandelson.

A couple of weeks ago Gordon Brown, UK’s Prime Minister, stated that he will release a “green recovery” plan on April 22nd, and these electric car incentives seem to be a really smart move. Meantime we have to congratulate the UK Government for encouraging environmentally-friendly technologies, and we are waiting to see what they have prepared for the British people.