Ken Clarke casts doubt on North’s electric car revolution

Oct 8 2009 by William Green, The Journal

CONSERVATIVE Ken Clarke yesterday threw the North East’s drive to become a global centre for electric cars into doubt after questioning whether the technology would work or be commercially successful.

Car maker Nissan would face tough tests from a Tory Government if it wants financial support to build electric vehicles at its Sunderland plant, the Shadow Business Secretary signalled.

His comments come as regional business and political chiefs are focussed on making the North East an international centre for electric cars with taxpayers’ cash.

Hopes are running high that Nissan will confirm plans to produce electric vehicles at its Sunderland plan having already announced a battery plant will be built locally.

But Mr Clarke, a key member of David Cameron’s top team, yesterday expressed reservations about electric vehicles in comments to The Journal.

“Electric cars are doing very well, it is quite rightly doing very well. But every country in the world is putting money into electric cars or hybrids.

“And I am sure we must continue to do so as long as the companies can satisfy us that we are not just giving them a free money and we are providing money that they actually would be investing themselves because they see a market for it,” said Mr Clarke.

He added: “I would like to be persuaded that someone is going to buy them and actually persuade me that the battery technology is after 100 years of striving going to reach a stage where it will actually be feasible and usable.

“There are other alternative fuels. There are other advanced technologies.”