Electric vehicles

Pollution from vehicles is a major cause of poor air quality in London.  Electric vehicles are being promoted as a way of encouraging those who wish to drive to use less polluting vehicles.

In May 2009, the Mayor published an Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan Opens in a new windowwhich aims to increase the number of electric vehicles in London to 100,000 as soon as possible and to have 25,000 charging points across London by 2015 (22,500 in workplace and retail/leisure car parks; 2000 in publicly accessible car parks and 500 on London’s streets). To assist in delivering this plan, in May 2011 the Mayor launched the Source London Opens in a new windowcharge point network.

In December 2009, London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) agreed to support the development of a pan-London membership scheme for EV users which it would be voluntary for boroughs to participate in. Our work in this area includes:

• Ensuring the Pan-London Electric Vehicle membership scheme (Source London) reflects borough concerns and priorities and moves to a ‘Pay-as-you-go’ model as soon as practically possible;
• Working to maintain government commitment to funding at a national level for Electric Vehicle infrastructure and maximising funding for boroughs’ Electric Vehicle activity from other sources;
• Encouraging Transport for London (TfL) to monitor the impacts of electric vehicle promotion on levels of walking and cycling to ensure that it is not discouraging the use of more sustainable modes.