Five cities across the UK were named as winners of a $60m fund to encourage drivers to go green.
The Go Ultra Low Cities fund aims to promote green vehicle technology with a focus on supporting plug-in electric cars across the UK.
The successful cities proposed a number of initiatives to support greener vehicles as part of a government competition.
- London will create "Neighbourhoods of the Future" prioritising ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in several boroughs.
- Milton Keynes will open an Electric Vehicle Experience Centre, a one-stop shop providing consumer advice and short-term vehicles loans.
- Bristol will offer residents free residential parking for ULEVs, access to three carpool lanes in the city, more than 80 rapid and fast chargers and a scheme encouraging people to lease a plug-in car for up to four weeks.
- Nottinghamshire and Derby will install 230 chargepoints and offer ULEV owners discount parking and access to more than 13 miles of bus lanes along key routes across the city.
Seven million pounds will also go towards specific initiatives in Dundee, Oxford, York and northeast regions to help them play their part in starting "a country-wide clean motoring revolution".
The proposals aim to improve air quality in urban hotspots and help the government meet its emission targets.
Patrick McLoughlin, the secretary of state for transport, said: "With thousands more plug-in cars set to be sold, cutting running costs for motorists and helping the environment, this investment will help to put the UK at the forefront of the global ultra-low emissions race.
"Initiatives such as customer experience centres, free parking, permission to drive in bus lanes and hundreds of new, convenient public charging locations are sure to appeal to drivers and inspire other cities and local authorities to invest in the electric revolution."
The Go Ultra Low Cities fund is just one element of a comprehensive $850m package of measures from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by 2020.
Other funding includes $570m of guaranteed money for individual plug-in car grants, investment in low emission buses and taxis, and research and development funding for innovative technology such as lighter vehicles and longer-lasting car batteries.
Image via Youtube
