Capital scientists offer plug to plan for boosting electric cars

Published on Monday 13 April 2009 09:58

SCIENTISTS at Edinburgh Napier University have backed Government plans to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised an environmentally friendly Budget later this month and plans for the mass introduction of electric vehicles are said to be part of his "green recovery" for the economy.

A research team at Napier's Transport Research Institute said using electric vehicles would not only help reduce carbon emissions but also bring down driving costs.

Tariq Muneer, professor of energy engineering, said: "It is becoming clear that unrestricted growth of car use is unsustainable. Anything that prompts such a change in attitude and behaviour has to be a good thing. It will be interesting to see how the Government's proposals help achieve this."

Last month, Edinburgh's tram project was blamed for scuppering an attempt to bring electric cars to the Capital.

A consortium had hoped to trial Mitsubishi's i MiEV vehicles in Edinburgh. However, Edinburgh-based Ash Gupta, who was leading the consortium, claimed the group were unable to finalise the paperwork because council officials were too busy with the tram dispute.