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£4 million boost in electric vans and truck drive
The government’s Plug-In Van grant scheme has been replenished with an additional £4 million, extending the eligibility to larger electric vehicles.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark announced during a trip to Japan that businesses will now be able to benefit from grants up to £20,000 when switching their large trucks to electric vehicles.
The Plug-In Van grant has been available to small commercial vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes since 2012. The additional £4 million to the scheme will ensure that all vans and trucks meeting the necessary requirements are eligible as part of the drive to reduce carbon emissions from transport use. The grant amount is automatically deducted from the price of the vehicle by the dealer when it is purchased, and the dealership also completes all the necessary paperwork.
It is hoped that the boost will stimulate demand for more electric vans and trucks, and consequently encourage new entrants into the electric van market.
Figures show that the proportion of vans in the domestic transport fleet is increasing, with new van sales up 66 per cent between 2010 and 2015, compared with a 30 per cent increase in cars over the same period.
Clark said: “The electric car revolution is well underway with consumers and this funding will encourage more businesses to consider switching to cleaner vans and trucks.
“Our automotive sector is thriving with the world’s most popular electric car already made in the UK and we are forging ahead to deploy new engine technology to make low-carbon vehicles mainstream, and leading the way in driverless car technology.
“The government and industry continue to work together to support the UK’s world class automotive industry to ensure we continue to be the number one place in the world to develop and manufacture cars.”
The scheme will be reviewed once 5,000 grants have been processed, or in March 2018, whichever is earlier.
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