An Oxford MP has said more needs to be done to make the switch to electric more affordable after the transport secretary said the city was “well on its way to becoming the first all-electric city in the country".

Louise Haigh made the announcement of Oxford becoming an electric city as bus operator Go-Ahead announced plans to invest half-a-billion pounds to build hundreds of UK-made electric buses, funding up to 1,200 new zero-emission buses over the next three years.

The cabinet minister said the Government is aware of the challenges over the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) but Oxford has been identified as an area where this can be accelerated first. 

Labour's Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds welcomed the plans, but said more action needs to be taken.

She said: “It is great to hear that our city of Oxford could become the first all-electric city in the UK.

"I am very proud of the fact that we host Europe’s most powerful EV charging hub at Redbridge Park and Ride. We now have many electric buses in the city; and, of course, developed the electric mini.

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Anneliese Dodds (Image: Contributed) "We do need, however, more action to ensure that switching to electric is affordable and convenient- and I know that both Oxford City Council and the Secretary of State for Transport are working hard towards that.”

Oxfordshire County Council suggested that Coventry is also in line to become the first electric city in the county.

However cabinet member for transport Andrew Gant said: “If Oxford becomes the first all-electric city in the country, then that would be incredible.

"The Oxford programme is already the largest rollout of electric buses in the UK outside of the major regions and is improving our air quality and making the passenger experience more pleasurable.

“We are hugely supportive of Go-Ahead’s commitment to electric buses, and are delighted with what we have seen of their investment in Oxford.

"The innovation and resource available from working closely with our partners in the private sector is a key part of this transformational initiative.

“It is great that the new government is so keen to support the bus sector and we look forward to working with them on practical proposals.

"This is an exciting time for buses and active travel in Oxfordshire.”

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Louise Haigh (Image: PA) Andrew Carter, chief executive of the independent think tank Centre for Cities, said: “Switching to electric vehicles will make Oxford and other places that do the same a cleaner, greener and healthier city.

"It also puts the city at the forefront of the government’s net zero programme.

“Every city needs to support the shift to low-emissions forms of transport, including electric vehicles – both cars and buses. In particular, people will have to use public transport more and private cars less.

“Local authorities’ decisions have a big impact on this. They must use the powers they have - like bus franchising - to help people choose public transport, by making it cheaper, more reliable and convenient.

"And they need to introduce measures that reduce car use like congestion charging, workplace parking levies and low emission zones.”

City councillor Anna Railton, deputy leader and cabinet member for zero carbon Oxford, said: "Oxford City Council is working with various organisations and partners to support the uptake of electric vehicles and installation of infrastructure across the city.

"Working with these groups, the council's EV strategy outlines how it plans to install electric vehicle charging points in order to meet the needs of all those who live, work, and visit Oxford." 

She added: "Oxford has one of the highest take-ups of EVs in the country, helped by the ZEZ and many businesses and individuals making the switch."

Green City councillor Emily Kerr welcomed the investment of electric buses in Oxford.

"They’ve been a key part of Oxford improving its air quality by 14 per cent vs last year, especially in the most polluted places," she said. 

"Electric buses are better to ride as a passenger as they’re smoother and less jerky, and I’m told they’re a lot nicer to drive as well."

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Oxford electric bus (Image: Contributed) It comes as BMW said last year it would invest £600 million in Mini factories at Oxford and Swindon, with the injection of money aimed at transforming the plant in Cowley to all electric production by 2030.

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus company, said: “Oxford is a shining example of what can be achieved when funding and investment is made and key stakeholders work in partnership for the greater good.

“We’re proud of the progress we have made in Oxford in helping improve air quality via the introduction of zero-emission vehicles, Oxford Bus Company now has 104 electric buses in our fleet and Stagecoach is in the process of rolling out 55, proving the city with one of the largest all-electric bus fleets in the UK.”

Ms Haigh said ministers will announce plans for a consultation on ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 after the previous government pushed back the deadline to 2035.