Treasury backs electric cars but makes limited moves on diesel

Funds set aside for national charging network and tech research, but lack of scrappage scheme disappoints

Electric cars have received a funding boost with the government earmarking 340m for a national charging network and subsidies for vehicle purchases.

However, further budget backing for greener vehicles was limited to a small rise in vehicle excise duty for new diesel cars that fail to meet rigorous emissions standards - disappointing campaigners who had hoped for a rise in fuel duty or a diesel scrappage scheme.