Boris Johnson 'should offer electric cars for hire'

London should have a fleet of electric cars for hire just like Boris bikes, an MP has told the Mayor.

Gareth Thomas is urging Boris Johnson to copy Paris, where 3,000 vehicles are set to be made available to rent for €5 for half an hour from October. The electric Autolib cars, designed by Italian firm Pininfarina, can travel 155 miles between charge-ups, at a top speed of 80mph.

Harrow West MP Mr Thomas used a Commons debate to call on Mr Johnson to study the potential for a London version following the success of the city's cycle hire scheme, inspired by Paris's Vélib bikes. "It would help to reduce congestion and pollution and would make car hire more affordable for ordinary Londoners," said Mr Thomas.

The Mayor's office said Mr Johnson had "no plans" to copy the Paris scheme but would promote the use of electric cars - which receive a 100 per cent congestion charge discount - through Source London, a project to install 1,300 public charging points across the city by 2013.