Tories plan charging points to help switch to electric cars

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In a bid to exploit Labour's environmental problems over Heathrow, the Conservative leader pledged his party would oversee a sea change in green energy and travel.

The Tory blueprint for a low carbon economy published today calls for electric cars to become "the norm" in Britain but warns that a national network of charging points will be needed to allow motorists to drive long distances without running out of power.

A Tory government will roll out a national green car scheme being piloted by Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Electric and hybrid vehicles will have enough recharging points to make their mass use viable. Ultimately, charging points could be provided at every petrol station.

Mr Cameron is looking at tax incentives for green cars. Last week he visited the Nissan factory in Sunderland, where manufacturers say electric cars will be built by 2011 that can go for 280 miles without charging.

"What we need with electric cars is that they go across the range and not just at the level of the G-Wiz. This is really exciting," he said.

A senior Tory source told the Evening Standard that a switch to electric cars could dramatically cut emissions.

He said: "Given the important part electric cars look set to play in reducing emissions from driving, we need to do more to encourage uptake. There is no realistic prospect of developing a mass-market for electric vehicles unless and until there is a national network of recharging points enabling drivers to operate electric vehicles across any chosen distance without fear of running out of energy."

Mr Cameron did admit defeat, however, over a much-discussed element of his personal plans to go green. He said today that "tragically" he would not be putting a wind turbine on top of his north Kensington home because the area simply lacked the wind to produce electricity.

The Tory package of measures aims to slash greenhouse gas emissions and create millions of green jobs. A key plank is a £1 billion investment in a hi-tech National Grid network with a "smart meter" in every home.