Germany plans to double financial aid, particularly to develop better, lighter batteries, which remain the brake on the technology's mass appeal. Cars which emit virtually no carbon dioxide will be exempt from tax.

Despite its green reputation, Germany has been slower than other countries, like Japan, to develop electric cars.

It now aims to change this, but attitudes may be hard to change. It is a country where 'no speed limits on the motorway' is seen as sacrosanct.

And it is the country of the BMW (car), though the luxury car-maker is now trying to develop lighter materials to make its vehicles greener.

Stephen Evans, BBC News, Berlin

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Vocabulary

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financial aid

help by giving money

the brake on

the drawback or negative aspect of

mass appeal

widespread popularity

emit

lets out or sends out

exempt

not required to do something

green reputation

known for its commitment to environmentally-friendly policies

to develop

to design and manufacture

speed limits

maximum speeds at which you are allowed to or can legally drive on different roads

sacrosanct

considered so important that it cannot be changed

materials

equipment and substances which are used to make things