THE Government's Cabinet Office has become one of the first fleets in the country to run a genuinely zero emissions car - zero at point of use and zero at the point of power generation.

The Cabinet Office is powering an emissions-free electric TH!NK City car with totally clean and renewable electricity. By generating power 'upstream' from renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro and landfill gas, the zero emission project avoids the downfall of many green schemes that simply shift pollution from city centre to power station.

Previously, critics of electric cars have claimed that power stations create as much or more pollution than a fossil fuelled car.

About 75% of Cabinet Office real estate, including Downing Street, Whitehall and Admiralty Arch (where the Ford TH!NK City vehicle will be recharged), have all made a commitment to buy green electricity, a move which will save around 2,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the coming year.

The TH!NK City car, which the Government Car and Despatch Area is trialling for 18 months on contract hire through Hertz, is based in Downing Street and will be used to ferry civil servants between meetings and carry documents between buildings.

Jerry Doyle, director of operations for the GCDA, said: 'We're always looking at alternatively fuelled vehicles as members of the London Clean Air Charter. If it proves successful, we may take on more.'

The 12 month contract for alternative power has been signed with British Energy for Downing Street and Whitehall, and with TXU Energi for Admiralty Arch.