Only one driver joins electric car scheme that cost £100,000

An electric car scheme funded with thousands of pounds of public money is struggling after just one driver signed up to use it.

Transport for London poured almost £100,000 into the initiative in Haringey, which offers 12 charging points in car parks to encourage owners to switch from petrol and diesel.

It was hoped that hundreds of drivers would ditch the combustion engine for eco-friendly electric models to reduce the borough's carbon footprint.

But today Haringey council called the pilot "disappointing" and admitted that only one resident had paid the scheme's £50 annual registration fee since it was set up last October.

A Freedom of Information response from Haringey revealed that TfL put in £63,175 over the past two years and despite the poor uptake has committed a further £30,000 for next year.

Utilities firm EDF Energy also pays towards the charging points.

It is hoped that the electric car schemes of every borough in London will be amalgamated by next year.

A Haringey spokesman confirmed that the money will be used to install eight more vehicle-charging points across the borough. The new chargers will take up double the space.

The Taxpayers' Alliance accused TfL of getting carried away by the novelty value of electric vehicles. The public spending pressure group wants more investment in commuter services.

Campaign manager Emma Broon said: "This is a ridiculous amount of taxpayers' money to spend on a scheme that is only being used by one person.

"Londoners have paid for these charging points that clearly aren't wanted or needed. Frustrated commuters who are frequently let down by TfL's poor services will be maddened to hear of this
spending."

There are 1,800 electric vehicles registered in London, 25 per cent of the UK total.

A spokesman for Haringey council said: "Although the initial take-up has been disappointing, the expectation is that more electric cars will be bought in the next couple of years, as more models come onto the mass market."

A TfL spokesman said: "Funding to provide charging points is absolutely key to encouraging more people to go electric."