The UK Government is becoming a major supporter of low emission vehicles by adding 140 of them to its fleet.

Fifteen Government departments and agencies, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, are adding 140 ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) to their fleets for staff as part of a £5 million investment to reduce emissions.

The Government Car Service, which provides cars for ministers, will also adopt four ULEVs.

The new vehicles are the first phase in a project designed to illustrate the effectiveness of the vehicles, and to encourage the UK to commit to greater take-up over the coming years.

Transport minister Baroness Kramer said: “This is an important step. These cars will save taxpayers money on running costs and will bring low emissions benefits to our fleet.

The £5 million investment will also fund take-up by the wider public sector – including councils, police forces and the NHS – of plug-in vehicles and pay for charge-points to be installed to allow the vehicles to be charged at work.

The investment forms the latest part of a £500 million package set aside for ULEV vehicles announced last year.