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Policy and media

Press release

Electric vehicles in cities will improve air quality

20 September 2012

Electric vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality, particularly in cities. If electric vehicles are used appropriately in big conurbations, it could help to improve air quality, says Europe’s biggest professional engineers’ body.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee inquiry into low carbon vehicles. The Committee’s report “Plug in Vehicles, Plugged in Policy?” published today, warns the Government that it must do more to show that its plug-in vehicle strategy is a good use of public money.

Chris Richards, IET Transport Policy Advisor said: “The underlying theme of the Transport Select Committee recommendations is that the Government’s low carbon vehicles programme needs to be reviewed and evaluated.

“The IET is recommending that any such review should look at the population centres and transport applications which would benefit from a more focused approach.

“There is a particular air quality benefit to be gained from the use of electric vehicles in urban areas. Increased incentives to assist adoption in cities could be one way to ensure the vehicles are being targeted on making the biggest impact.”