Plans to buy 140 electric vehicles for the government’s fleet have been announced by the Department for Transport.

The cars will serve a total of 15 government departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and the Home Office. An additional four vehicles will be provided to the Government Car Service, whose role is providing transport to ministers.

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. Today’s announcement proves that Britain is leading the electric charge while supporting the growth of this important industry.”

The decision is part of a £5 million investment in ultra-low emission vehicles designed to cut the UK’s carbon footprint. It is also aimed at boosting the economy by choosing British-built vehicles, such as the Nissan LEAF. Overall, the automobile industry is worth £11 billion in the national economy.