There was a quietly telling moment during the federal election campaign, which came in response to Michaelia Cash’s assertion that Labor, with its support for electric vehicles, was coming to steal tradies’ utes.

Reports about Senator Cash’s comments, mocked in some quarters in Australia, were noticed in London. On the Twitter feed of a growing startup called Char.gy a response appeared. With a link to a story about Cash’s comments it said simply, “Vote Bill, save the planet.”

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash. Alex Ellinghausen

Sitting in a London pub earlier this month, Char.gy’s founder and chief executive Richard Stobart is far too polite to discuss the comment directly, but he does say that any politician who argues that electric vehicles are not a viable and crucial technology is doing so for political rather than practical reasons.

Char.gy is one of a raft of companies in the UK thriving due to the rapid uptake of electric vehicles. The industry is thriving with the support of the UK government, which sees the electrification of transport linked to large-scale renewable energy as crucial in its efforts to cut carbon emissions, and the London government, which is seeking to reduce pollution in the city.

Mr Stobart founded his company when he found he could not buy an electric vehicle because he lived in a flat and had nowhere to charge it. Surely, he thought, it should not be too hard to put a charge point on the post of a street light? In fact, he discovered, such an apparently simple solution presented complex regulatory and technical challenges. Once he proved the technology, Char.gy was embraced UK governments. Mr Stobard installed his first street charging point in November last year and has since installed 300 more. Over the next five years 9000 more will be installed, with subscribers paying about £40 ($72) a month to charge their cars. Char.gy is in talks to introduce the technology to parts of India and the US.

According to Mr Stobard, many of the points are used by London’s distinctive black cabs, 10 per cent of which – about 2000 vehicles – are now hybrid. The hybrid cabs look much like the traditional version, but are roomier, travel silently and feature Wi-Fi, USB charging points and dramatic clear roofs. Its batteries can be topped up to 80 per cent capacity in 25 minutes, and a full charge gives an electric-only range of 130 kilometres – about two-thirds of the 190 kilometres a typical cabbie drives in a day. Its petrol engine is used only to extend the range of its batteries.

One owner-driver, John Dowd, said the cab saved him about £120 a week in fuel. At £57,000 the vehicles are more expensive than the diesel model, but attract a £7500 subsidy. Mr Dowd said his savings almost negate his repayments.

The battery also gives him free access to the new Ultra Low Emission Zone that has been established in central London, which effectively penalises all internal combustion vehicle movements within its boundary.

Further, Mr Dowd says, customers call him specifically or wait longer in queues because they prefer the new cabs. He also feels less tired at the end of a shift in a smooth, quiet vehicle.

"I couldn't go back to driving a diesel cab now. It's a completely different world."

A London cab driver charges a TX City London taxi built by the London Electric Vehicle Company. Bloomberg

The manufacturers, the London Electric Vehicle Company, say they cannot keep up with demand.

London’s red double-decker buses are also being electrified, with 3000 fully electric busses expected to be deployed this year.

Since The Sun-Herald's visit earlier this month the LEVC has unveiled a new zero emissions-capable light van. It is estimated the electric vehicle industry could create up to 100,000 jobs in Britain by 2030.

Earlier this month British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the government was embracing a plan to reduce the nation’s emissions to net zero by 2050, and the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from 2040. Transport now accounts for about 25 per cent of the UK’s emissions, the largest single source.

"To truly transform the quality of our air and to tackle the climate crisis, London must move away from petrol and diesel cars, with their catastrophic impact on the environment, and towards zero-emission vehicles,” London’s lord mayor, Sadiq Khan, said earlier this month.

"I want London to lead the world in this ambition, with all new cars and vans on London roads meeting these standards by 2030, not 2040 as the government is proposing.

"To make this vision a reality, we must make sure all Londoners have access to the essential infrastructure required to run and maintain an electric vehicle. This is a massive operation and can only be achieved if the public and private sector come together to deliver London’s electric future."

In Australia neither party campaigned during the last federal election with a plan to support the electric vehicle industry, though Ms Cash did promise to “stand by our tradies” and “save their utes”.

Nor has either party outlined a plan to restructure taxation policies to replace the $5.5 billion per year the government is expected to lose fuel excise revenue by 2040.

In NSW the state government has been more proactive, announcing earlier this year $3 million for charging points on major roads, including the Pacific, Princes, Great Western, New England and Newell highways, and $2 million for installing them in commuter car parks.

From Monday four electric buses will be trialled on routes in the inner west and the government has also announced it will spend $10 million on 10 electric buses to be based at Randwick.

Nick O'Malley travelled to the UK as a guest of the Climate Council.