The United Kingdom's national government plans to buy 300 plug-in electric cars and vans for its police forces, ambulances and councils. 

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles has given the UK government £5m for ultra low-emission vehicles to be used across 20 fleets. The Government Car Service will be leading the initiative, which will be divided into two phases. The first round of plug-in cars and vans will be more than 150 in the fall of 2014. The second phase will broaden the use of plug-in vehicles to the public sector.  

The initiative has two benefits of helping the environment and also improving the UK economy, according to government officials.

The Energy Saving Trust will advise government departments on which fleets should utilize these vehicles to be the most cost efficient. 

Charging points will be added to Whitehall and Downing Street.