Ministers' £400m plan for electric car charging infrastructure delayed

Plan for fund combining taxpayers' cash and private investment significantly behind schedule, it has emerged

A 400m government plan to build electric car charging points looks likely to be significantly delayed, in a blow to car manufacturers and efforts to tackle air pollution in UK cities.

The Treasury pledged last year to support the switch to zero-emission vehicles with a 400m fund for charging infrastructure. Half of the money was to come from the taxpayer, with the rest matched by the private sector, according to an announcement in the autumn budget.