by Dongying Wang, Rob Welham

    LONDON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The British government has announced an initiative to encourage the use of electric cars, as the central part of its strategy to promote ultra low-carbon transport over the next five years.

    This week's announcement came as the country faces twin pressures in salvaging its car industry, a key player in the national economy, and fulfilling its goals in carbon dioxide emissions cuts.

    But the initiative has already come under fire from green groups and opposition parties who say it is not viable, both economically and ecologically. Seemingly well-founded, the plan may bring many troubles before Britons could see such vehicles in car showrooms.

    CHECKERED HISTORY

    The electric car has had a long history stretching back to the 19th Century. But it is only in recent years that the idea has been taken seriously. Large and expensive batteries, as well as low speeds and short mileage ranges, make the electric vehicle unattractive to both consumers and manufacturers.

    In Britain, electric vehicles have long been used to deliver milk. Operated by local dairies, the milk float has become synonymous with the British way of life. But due to the short distances they cover and a top speed of only 24 km/h, there is a widespread belief that electric vehicles are not practical.

    That opinion changed when the American car manufacturer, General Motors, introduced the EV1 in the 1990s. Capable of motorway speeds and with a range of 216 km before a recharge, the car became highly popular amongst the lucky few who were able to lease the vehicle.

    But after only eight years on the road, General Motors demanded the vehicles back. The decision led to accusations that the company was trying to remove threats to the oil industry and spawned a documentary film "Who killed the electric car?"

    With a growing green movement and a better understanding of global warming, there has been a shift in attitude toward the electric car.

    In a show of technological achievement, Swiss solar energy pioneer, Louis Palmer, completed a world tour in his solar-taxi in 2007. Covering more than 52,000 km in his solar-powered electric vehicle, Palmer said he wanted to prove the existence of solutions in lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

    PLANNING A GREEN FUTURE

    Britain's business secretary Peter Mandelson took to the wheel of an electric car on Thursday, saying it would create an "industrial and employment opportunity as well as an ecological one."

    He said that the new range of electric vehicles would excite drivers. "I think when people see the electric car and feel it, its speed, its lack of noise, they'll fall in love with it," Mandelson said.

    London has already seen electric cars on its streets and the British government also has come up with proposals aimed to create many "electric car cities."

    The small and nimble G-Wiz, the only fully electric car available in Britain, has been seen on the capital's streets for a number of years. Although it only has a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of only 65 km, it has attracted many customers. One of its most notable users is Sir Victor Blank, the Lloyds Banking Group chairman.

    Newer models promise greater speeds and longer distances between charges. And the government is planning to roll out infrastructure and charging points across Britain, at a cost of 20million pounds (29 million U.S dollars).

    CAUTIOUS SUPPORT

    London Mayor Boris Johnson urged the government to back his ambitious plans to make London the electric car capital of Europe.

    He said the initiative would create jobs, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. The mayor has also pledged to exempt electric cars from the London congestion charge. In addition, he has called for all new parking spaces to be equipped with charging points.

    Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said that while charging points were needed in towns across the country, it was important that the electricity generated to supply them came from more ecological sources.

    It was a point echoed by Shadow energy secretary Ray Clark. He urged the government to put more efforts into low-carbon electricity generation. "If people used the current electricity grid to charge these electric vehicles, there'd be more emissions," Clark said.

    When it came to funding, Osborne was also critical since Britain is already deeply in debt due to the recession.

    "There's no detail about how any of this will be funded," Osborne said. "It increasingly appears that the prime minister is again talking about imaginary money, from an imaginary budget."

    But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has dismissed the critics.

    "Cutting road transport CO2 emissions is a key element to tackling climate change," he said, "Less than 0.1 percent of the UK's 26 million cars are electric, so there is a huge untapped potential to reduce emissions."

    The minister said that because of the scale of incentives being announced, electric cars will be a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low carbon transportation.

    BOOST TO CAR INDUSTRY

    Under the initiative, consumers wishing to buy electric or hybrid vehicles will be eligible for a grant of between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds (2,992 and 7,479 U.S. dollars).

    The G-Wiz can cost between 8,000 and 15,000 pounds (11,967 and 22,438 dollars) and critics have questioned how much of an incentive the grant would be.

    Those in the motor trade, however, have broadly welcomed the plans.

    Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the government had shown its commitment to developing a market for ultra-low carbon vehicles in Britain.

    However, he said that British design, research & development and manufacturing should be at the heart of what he called a growing industry.

    "The motor industry is in the middle of its greatest economic challenge, and immediate action to preserve the British sector in the short-term is essential if we are to stake our claim in the global development of low carbon technology for the future," Everitt said.

    "GREEN CAR REVOLUTION"

    Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced plans for Britain to be at the forefront of a "green car revolution" during his speech at the Group of Eight industrial nations in 2008.

    He suggested that by 2020, all new cars sold in Britain could be electric or hybrid vehicles producing less than 100g/km of carbon dioxide.

    This week, business secretary Mandelson repeated the prime minister's vision, saying, "We in Britain need to lead this revolution."

    But the government's plans are already falling behind those of other countries. Later this year, China is set to launch a family electric car, the E6, which is seen by its manufacturer, BYD Auto, as a solution to global warming.

    The E6 also is expected to put China on the map as a major car manufacturer as it extends its reach into Europe as early as 2010.

    Since the E6 has a top speed of 160 km/h and a range of 300 km, other manufacturers will have a lot to live up to.

    Brown this week has pledged to inject money into companies such as Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover to get electric cars rolling off the production line by 2011. But some think it may prove to be too little and too late.