Brown unveils push for electric cars

LONDON, April 8 (UPI) -- Trials for new all-electric cars are expected to begin as soon as next year in two or three British cities, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

In an interview Wednesday with The Independent, Brown said Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will announce in his upcoming national budget that funding would be included for trials of the electric vehicles, which the prime minister said would be a kick start for Britain's "green recovery," envisioned to produce 400,000 new "green industry" jobs.

Brown said the government would open talks with power companies to establish a network of roadside power points for the vehicles to have their batteries recharged as part of the effort.

"A different type of economy will emerge in the recovery -- if we are prepared to invest in the future," he told The Independent. "Britain has a very strong and successful future ahead of us. We are leading in a number of key sectors."

In the interview, Brown said other "green measures" to be outlined shortly include building of more wind farms; "smart meters" to be installed in every home to monitor energy usage; and the development of a "clean coal" industry using carbon capture and storage technology.