The government needs to boost efforts to promote low-pollution cars, according to an interim report released by a panel under the Environment Agency on Friday.
There were only 29,000 low-pollution cars, such as electric, gas and hybrid engine cars, on the road as of the end of fiscal 1998 -- far below the target of 300,000 vehicles by 2000 set by a 1992 law intended to reduce nitrogen oxide concentrations in the air.
The report says the higher price of clean cars and a lack of infrastructure to support them are major factors limiting their acceptance.
The report calls for further consideration of regulatory policies -- including those for mandatory introduction, production, sales and fuel supply for such vehicles -- by manufacturers and companies.
Economic mechanisms, such as subsidies and tax incentives, will also be considered by the panel, which will release a more definitive set of recommendations by December, officials said.
Nitrogen oxide is associated with respiratory disorders, such as asthma.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.