Four cities have been awarded £40m to roll-out green vehicle technology such as street lighting that charges electric cars and extra parking spaces for plug-in car owners.

Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London have been named as the winners of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme and will now share the multi-million funding pot to support the take-up of plug-in electric cars.

The measures being introduced by the cities include rapid-charging hubs and a range of proposals that will give plug-in car owners extra local privileges such as access to bus lanes in city centres.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: 'These Go Ultra Low Cities have proposed exciting, innovative ideas that will encourage drivers to choose an electric car. I want to see thousands more greener vehicles on our roads and I am proud to back this ambition with £40m to help the UK become international pioneers of emission cutting technology.'

London has been awarded £13m to prioritise ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in several boroughs across the capital, while Milton Keynes will receive £9m to open a city centre Electric Vehicle Experience Centre.

Bristol will get £7m to offer residents free residential parking for ULEVs and access to three carpool lanes and 80 rapid across the city. Nottinghamshire and Derby will use their £6m of funding to install 230 chargepoints and offer ULEV owners discount parking and access to bus lanes along key routes across the city.

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low said: 'With thousands more plug-in cars set to be sold, cutting running costs for motorists and helping the environment, this investment will help to put the UK at the forefront of the global ultra-low emissions race.

'Initiatives such as customer experience centres, free parking, permission to drive in bus lanes and hundreds of new, convenient public charging locations are sure to appeal to drivers and inspire other cities and local authorities to invest in the electric revolution.'