London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced plans to expand the network of electric vehicle recharging points installed across the capital as part of an initiative designed to accelerate adoption of the zero carbon cars.

Johnson said that he is to launch a new London Electric Working Group, with a view to promoting use of electric vehicles and accelerating the development of supporting infrastructure such as recharging points.

He added that the group would begin work to almost treble the number of recharging points available across the capital from 40 currently to 140, although he failed to give timeline for the project.

Johnson said electric cars provided the ideal opportunity for commuters, businesses and families to continue to use cars while still helping to reduce London's carbon emissions. "If we can help make these cars affordable, attractive and easy for Londoners to use then I believe we can put London in pole position when it comes to the use of this type of technology," he added.

The new working group, which is to be headed up by the Mayor's Director of Transport Policy Kulveer Ranger, will also lobby London councils to offer perks such as free parking to drivers of electric cars. The move is likely to step up pressure on the City of London council to reverse its recent decision to scrap free parking for electric vehicles after the scheme proved more popular than the council expected.