The Government will continue the current Plug-in Car Grant scheme offering motorists up to £5,000 off the price of an electric car until at least February 2016 for all categories of vehicle, boosting further the rapidly-growing plug-in car market.
The Plug-in Van Grant scheme indefinitely continues.
The Government’s commitment to maintaining the established Plug-in Car Grant will see the contribution for ultra-low emission vehicles continue at current levels into 2016.
Previously the Government had announced that grant levels would be reviewed once 50,000 vehicles had been sold, a milestone expected to be reached in November this year.
As a result, all plug-in cars with CO2 emissions of 75g/km or less will remain eligible for a grant.
Given its ambition to make the UK a world leader in ultra low emission technology, the Government recently announced that a minimum of £200 million has been made available to continue the Plug-in Car Grant and this latest news will add extra incentive toprivate buyers and fleets who were looking to ‘go electric’ in 2015 and 2016. Further details about how the plug-in car grant will be structured beyond February are expected following the Government Spending Review in November.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “With British buyers taking to ultra-low emission vehicles faster than anyone else in Europe, the extension of the Plug-in Car Grant is good news. The market for these vehicles remains small, however, so it is essential that government continues to provide effective incentives for their uptake – including the Plug-in Car Grant and other measures.”
Also, the BVRLA has welcomed the Government’s announcement that the current Plug-In Car Grant scheme will continue until at least February 2016, while the Plug-In Van Grant will continue indefinitely.
* Wireless charging of electric vehicles will be the next big thing in technology and a Kia Soul is the base vehicle for its evaluation among US engineers.
