SNP urged to take wheel of electric cars

LABOUR'S environment spokeswoman, Sarah Boyack, has called on SNP ministers to switch to electric cars as an example to motorists.

She said the Scottish Government had a fleet of 209 vehicles, of which 174 were diesel and just 25 vehicles were hybrid – petrol/electric or diesel/electric – none powered solely by electricity.

A report by WWF Scotland has warned that at least one in ten vehicles on Scotland's roads must be electric by 2020 if climate change targets are to be achieved.

Ms Boyack, Labour MSP for Edinburgh Central, said: "We want to see more electric cars on the roads, but SNP ministers need to switch to low-emissions vehicles themselves if they want others to follow.

"It is disappointing that the Scottish Government has not yet put any serious investment in vehicles powered solely by electricity when there are firms on our doorstep producing models."