Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon took an electric car for a spin today as they launched the Government's package of measures for low-carbon vehicles.

The ministers test drove a Mini E at the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife after announcing that consumers will receive incentives of between £2,000 and £5,000 to buy an electric car from 2011.

Lord Mandelson said the vehicles would play a key role in cutting emissions and pave the way towards a "low-carbon future".

He also announced a doubling of the 100 demonstration electric vehicles which should be tested on Britain's roads in the next 18 months.

Mr Hoon said the consumer incentive - part of the Government's low-carbon transport plan - would mean an electric car was "a real option for motorists".

The incentives will be introduced to coincide with the expected mass introduction of electric and plug-in hybrid (part electric part petrol) cars to the market.

The ministers, who are in Scotland for today's UK Government Cabinet meeting, experienced the electric driving experience first-hand by driving the BMW Mini E.

Taking their seats, Lord Mandelson joked: "This is what the Secretary of State for Transport is for - he is there to drive you around."

Mr Hoon completed a few laps of the Knockhill circuit before letting Lord Mandelson behind the wheel.

Afterwards, the Business Secretary described the drive as "very comfortable".

Launching the measures, Lord Mandelson said: "What the Government wants is for Britain to be at the forefront of the green motoring revolution.

"To do so we need to build a mass market in electric and hybrid cars.

"We are not going to have a high carbon future in this country.

"We need to prepare hard for this switch to low-carbon transport, both for climate change reasons, but also because of the huge business and industrial opportunities that this switchover will bring."

He added that the conversion to low-carbon transport would be a challenge, but one he believes Britain could meet head-on.

"I am absolutely convinced that Britain's car makers can seize the opportunities offered by a green, more sustainable economy," Lord Mandelson said.

The plan is for consumers to receive help from the Government worth in the region of £2,000 to £5,000 to allow for the maximum choice of which car they buy.

The Department for Transport is beginning discussions with the motor industry and financiers to determine how best to deliver this assistance.

To be eligible, cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.

Mr Hoon said today: "Cutting road transport CO2 emissions is a key element to tackling climate change. Less than 0.1% of the UK's 26 million cars are electric, so there is a huge untapped potential to reduce emissions.

"The scale of incentives we're announcing today will mean that an electric car is a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low-carbon transport."

The five-year plan includes a £250 million scheme to deliver a green motoring transformation and involves promoting the infrastructure and support technology and encouragement of manufacture in the UK which will place low-carbon transport at the centre of the Government's vision for the UK economy.

At present the cost of electric cars is high, with one high-performance vehicle, the Tesla Roadster, having a starting price of more than £87,000.

Currently there is also little infrastructure in place to support the recharging such cars need.

Last week London Mayor Boris Johnson announced a plan to introduce thousands of charging points across the capital.