Petrol cars would be outlawed under a Liberal Democrat government in the UK with fuel cell vehicles used instead, the party's environment spokesman has revealed.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Liberal Democrats' new paper Zero Carbon Britain - Taking A Global Lead, Chris Huhne said the move is necessary in the fight against climate change and claimed that existing legislation to improve environmental standards is insufficient.

"What we are saying is that needs to go further. We need to provide certainty to the car industry and every other industry that is involved in this area to make sure that by 2040 we are using alternative non-carbon emitting fuels."

"For example, it could be the hydrogen fuel cell, it could be the sort of improvements you have already seen in battery technology," he said.

Mr Huhne added that the change could be enacted through "the EU acting together through the internal market".

The UK government has pledged to cut carbon emissions by at least 60 per cent from levels recorded in 1990 by 2050.

Source: Lib Dems urge end to petrol cars, 28/8/07

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6966771.stm

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