Plan for plugging into electric cars to cut carbon emissions

Ambitious proposals to widen the use of electric vehicles in Scotland are to be unveiled today.

Climate change minister Stewart Stevenson is launching a consultation into the roll out of low-carbon vehicles with the aim of making all public sector vehicles low- carbon by 2020. It is also proposed that 95% of all new vehicles should be low-carbon in 2020.

The consultation seeks to identify what building blocks are required to achieve widespread adoption of such vehicles across the country.
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The MSP said: "Government must back up its world-leading climate change targets with action and this consultation does just that.

"Emissions from the transport sector have been increasing in recent years and a major uptake of low-carbon vehicle technologies is required to reverse this trend.

"We all have a role to play in tackling climate change but the public sector must be seen to set the standard. This 2020 target will not only ensure that the public sector is stepping up to the plate on its transport emissions but also help create a market that can drive further development of low-carbon technology.

"Scottish companies are already leading the way in the development of low-carbon vehicles. In these challenging times we need to play to our strengths and take advantage of the opportunities in developing the sustainable low-carbon economy of the future."