Public sector organisations are being urged to bid for funding from a £5 million scheme to support the introduction of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs).
This is the second phase of a scheme announced by the Department for Transport last year and which is already due to see 150 ULEVs enter public sector fleets from February.
For this phase, up to 35 organisations – including the police, fire services and the NHS – will be able to test their 'ULEV readiness' to get electric and plug-in hybrids into government fleets. The government expects a further 200 plug-in vehicles to be introduced.
"We want the public sector to lead by example," says transport minister Baroness Kramer.
"This £5 million investment will see a significant increase in the number of plug-in vehicles... I look forward to seeing the results."
The £5m fund is in addition to £500m announced by the deputy prime minister last April.