TWO of the biggest Scottish players in the electric vehicle market are calling on political parties north of the Border to help the industry "step up a gear" ahead of this year's Holyrood elections. Glasgow-based allied Vehicles and Dundee battery maker axeon have joined forces with environmental charity WWF Scotland to push for the roll-out of more electric vehicles (EVs) and public charging points. The trio has challenged political parties to outline how they would help deliver the "widespread and rapid take-up of EVs" as part of their manifesto commitments in the run-up to May's Scottish Parliament elections. Paul Nelson, allied Electric's managing director, said that, as well as the environmental benefits of EVs, the growing industry could also offer a jobs boost. "This is a technology that has the potential to create hundreds of much-needed manufacturing jobs right here in Scotland," Nelson said. "Scotland's renewable potential must be matched by a strong committment to electric vehicles. We have the fantastic opportunity to be powering our cars with green electricty by 2020 that we cannot afford to miss." axeon - which is one of Europe's biggest producers of Lithium-ion battery packs for EVs - is already well placed to capitalise on the industry's expansion. Chief executive Lawrence Berns said: "Our battery and charger systems are designed and manufactured to exacting automotive standards in Scotland, drawing on many years of battery experience." The three organi