Green row as Boris cancels low-carbon vehicles order

Boris Johnson's green credentials came under fire today after he cancelled an order for 60 low-carbon vehicles in what was the largest hydrogen transport project in the country.

The Mayor has said he will still introduce 10 hydrogen buses but is rethinking his predecessor's policy of delivering prototype vehicles including cars, vans and motorbikes.

Ken Livingstone had planned to introduce the hydrogen-fuelled buses as well as another 60 hydrogen or hybrid vehicles by 2010. It comes weeks after Mr Johnson handed out prize models of hydrogen cars to school children who had won the London Hydrogen competition.

Leader of the Green Party on the London Assembly, Darren Johnson, said: "It is hypocrisy to tell young people that hydrogen is their future one week and then cancel that future the next. Mayor Johnson has just scrapped the biggest hydrogen vehicle project in this country."

Aspokeswoman for Mr Johnson said today: "Transport for London identified that the programme to develop a wider range of prototype hydrogen vans, cars and motorbikes was not set to deliver its objectives of helping to stimulate the market in hydrogen vehicles - therefore making these less polluting vehicles cheaper."