Oil industry 'overcame electric cars 100 years ago'

Chris Huhne has pointed out how the oil industry has already seen off opposition from electric cars once in the past.

A century ago, New York taxis were powered by electricity, the energy and climate change secretary noted in a speech this week to CentreForum.

Mr Huhne, who is also the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, told his audience that lower prices from the oil industry led to more petrol-powered vehicles and fewer electric cars taking to the roads.

He added that higher prices are now bringing out the value of the coalition government's policies for UK consumers.

As per-barrel prices pass beyond the $100 mark, Mr Huhne claimed the British public are "winning hands down" by the government's approach to energy as a whole.

With the current set of policies in place, he argued that, had oil stayed around $80 per barrel, consumers would have been worse off in relative terms.