UK Introduces Plug-in Car Grant

25 February, 2010 09:49:00

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Motorists hoping to buy electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, will be entitled to a discount of up to Â£5,000 ($7660) under a scheme to be launched in January next year in UK.

The ‘Plug-in Car Grant’ will provide 25% towards the cost of purchasing a new ultra-low carbon car, capped at £5,000. It will be open to private and business fleet buyers.

To be eligible for the hand-out cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a large enough range and top speed to make them popular.

Only battery electric, plug-in hybrids with emissions of less than 75 g/km, or hydrogen fuel cell cars will be eligible for part of the 230 million pound total fund.

The electric vehicles must have a range of at least 70 miles, or 113 km, while hybrids must be able to run for at least 10 miles without using fuel, and all vehicles must be able to go faster than 60 miles per hour. The government also plans to spend 30 million pounds on a network of electric vehicle hubs, called Plugged-In Places, in car parks, supermarkets and selected streets.

The government also is establishing a £30 million ($46 million) fund for a network of electric vehicle charging spots, called Plugged-In Places, at parking areas, supermarkets, retail centers and on the street. More than 11,000 stations are to be installed in the next three years in London, Milton Keynes and the northeast of England. More stations are to be announced later this year.

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