London’s Lib Dems are clamouring for public transport to go all-electric. The party’s London Assembly branch is campaigning for a Big Switch to electric buses and taxis in the capital city by 2020.They say it will cut London’s air pollution, dramatically reduce premature deaths and ill health and help meet climate change targets.

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne was on hand at City Hall to support the proposals as they were announced yesterday.

Mike Tuffrey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson said: “Electric cars are welcome, but bang for buck the biggest benefits come from electrifying the vehicles that clock up the most miles and generate the most pollution. Look at the facts and it is a no brainer that the top priority is to electrify buses, taxis and vans.”

He added that London was being outstripped by other cities around the globe:”Turin and Genoa have had electric buses for many years and Seoul has announced plans that half of its public transport vehicles will be electric by 2020. In the UK, Durham already has electric buses on their roads. Why is London falling so far behind?”