London mayor cuts electric car charging scheme funds

Mayor Boris Johnson wanted to install 7,500 charging points across London by 2015

London Mayor Boris Johnson has cut £13m from a scheme to install charging points for electric cars across London.

Mr Johnson had pledged to raise £20m for the £60m scheme which would see 22,500 charging points across London, with 7,500 being installed by 2013.

But following the Spending Review he has cut his monetary commitment to the project to £7m.

The mayor's office said its commitment to make London the electric car capital of Europe was "as strong as ever".

The Mayor of London's transport advisor, Kuldeer Ranger, said: "These are clearly difficult times for public sector funding but by working proactively with our private sector partners we are confident we can still fulfil our goals."

In February, the plan was announced to have 7,500 charge points by 2013, of which 6,000 was to be installed at work places, 500 on the streets, 330 in public car parks, 50 at Tube stations, 140 in supermarket car parks and 120 at car clubs.

Mr Johnson also promised that no Londoner will be more than a mile from a charging point.

At present there are more than 250 charging points in London, over half funded by TfL, with 1,700 electric vehicles currently registered.

The mayor wants the number of electric vehicles in the capital to rise to 100,000 by 2020.