Skip to main content

Funding boost for ultra low emission vehicles

A major $US43 million (£35 million) package to boost the uptake of ultra-low emission cars and scooters has been unveiled by the UK government. The fresh funding commitment will see thousands more electric vehicle charge-points installed on streets and at workplaces across the UK, after the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered rose by 250 per cent in just two years. The government is also buying two brand new Nissan LEAF electric cars for the Government Car Service, to add to the four
October 14, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A major $US43 million (£35 million) package to boost the uptake of ultra-low emission cars and scooters has been unveiled by the UK government.

The fresh funding commitment will see thousands more electric vehicle charge-points installed on streets and at workplaces across the UK, after the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered rose by 250 per cent in just two years.

The government is also buying two brand new Nissan LEAF electric cars for the Government Car Service, to add to the four that are already in use.

The announcement is part of the government’s plans to improve air quality, and it comes as Defra launch a new consultation on introducing clean air zones in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton by 2020.

The funding includes the next steps of a US$24 million (£20 million) competition that will help councils roll out charge-points for ultra-low emission taxis and up to US$12 million (£10 million) funding for charge-points outside workplaces and homes where there is no off-street parking. It also includes the launch of an initial US$4.5 million (£3.75 million) scheme to encourage uptake of zero emission motorcycles and scooters and US$2.4 million (£2 million) awarded to public and private sector organisations to deploy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The funding is being delivered as part of the government’s commitment to invest US$610 million (£600 million) in ultra-low emission vehicles by 2020.

In addition, an initial US$4.5 (£3.75 million) is being made available for motorcycle and scooter riders who want to want to go green, providing them with up to 20 per cent off the cost of an electric motorcycle or scooter. Buyers will be able to claim a maximum discount of US$1,800 (£1,500).

Related Content

  • First all-electric taxi fleet could hit roads in US
    October 23, 2012
    A fleet of all-electric cabs may soon be plugged in and driving on the streets of Arlington, Virginia, US, a sign the environmentally-friendly vehicles are slowly catching on as a viable means of transportation in the US. "No one has really taken the first step to do this," said Malik Khattak, founder of Electric Vehicle Taxicab Company, who has proposed a fleet of 40 all-electric Nissan Leaf cars which he says will be the first taxicab fleet of its kind in the US.
  • Nissan and Enel launch vehicle-to-grid project in the UK
    May 12, 2016
    Automotive manufacturer Nissan and multinational power company Enel are to launch a major vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial in the UK, which will see one hundred V2G units installed and connected at locations agreed by private and fleet owners of the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 electric van. By giving Nissan electric vehicle owners the ability to plug their vehicles into the V2G system, owners will have the flexibility and power to sell stored energy from their vehicle battery back to the National Grid. The annou
  • True Zero expands hydrogen network through California Energy Commission grants
    November 15, 2017
    The California Energy Commission has provided True Zero (TZ) with $26.6 million (£20.2 million) to install 12 new hydrogen stations to help build out the state’s retail hydrogen network. The funding includes grants for capital cost share and operation and maintenance support. In August, TZ opened its 18th retail hydrogen station in California and is now developing 13 additional stations. Joel Ewanick, chief executive officer of TZ, said: "With these 12 new stations you'll see a transition to higher
  • Osprey pumps £75m into EV infrastructure
    September 17, 2021
    Each charger is expected to add 100 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes