UK government extends Plug-In Car Grant to vans for up to $12,300
17 January 2012
Van buyers in the UK will be able to receive 20%—up to £8,000 (US$12,300)—off the cost of a plug-in van, UK Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced. This is an extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25%—up to £5,000 (US$7,700)—to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Ministers have also re-confirmed there is funding secured for this grant until 2015.
There are currently 10 cars eligible for the Plug-In Car Grant—5 of which came onto the market in 2011, with the other half expected to be available to purchase this year. During the first year of the scheme, 1,052 eligible vehicles were registered and, up to 31 December 2011, 892 applications were made for the Plug-In Car Grant (Quarter 1; 465; Quarter 2 215; Quarter 3 106; Quarter 4 106). Manufacturers apply for the grant following the purchase of the car hence the lag between registrations and grant applications.
The purpose of the consumer grant is to enable the purchase of ultra-low carbon vehicles which could otherwise have been unaffordable. The consumer will also benefit from lower running costs over the lifetime of the vehicle.
Electric vehicles are the arrowhead for a low carbon revolution in motoring and as more models come to market we’ll begin to see sales gather pace. Car buyers have had a year to take advantage of our grant and now it’s time for van buyers to get their chance to go electric. This is great news for businesses given the lower running costs of these vehicles—fleet buyers tell us that this is one of the most important factor influencing their decision on what to buy.
—Transport Minister Norman Baker
Only vans which meet strict performance criteria for range, tail-pipe emissions and safety will be eligible for the Plug-In Van Grant. The application process opens today and van manufacturers are invited to apply for their vehicles to become part of the scheme. Applications can be received at any time. The Department expects to confirm shortly the first vans to join the scheme, for which applications will need to be received by 31 January.
The UK Government has made provision of more than £400 million (US$614 million) to promote the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicle technologies. This includes approximately £80 million (US$123 million) supporting research and development activities; £30 million (US$46 million) for the installation of infrastructure; and, £300 million (US$460 million) to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament.
The Government’s assessment is that the number of installed chargepoints in the UK is more than 2,500, of which 765 have been delivered (to 14 October 2011) through the Government’s Plugged-In Places trials and the remainder through private sector organisations’ investment. The private sector organisations have commitments to deliver approximately a further 4,000 points across the UK by the end of 2012.
Reason for extending: no interest. Facts: they sold in UK in total 812 EV´s versus 1,2 mil. of "normal" vehicles. It is 0,00066 %.
Elctromadness sits on ministry of transport very heavily.
465 EV´s delivered during 1st q., 265 during 2nd q., 3rd q. = 100.
Even after massive campaign and massive financila support NOBODY wants EV´s - because they are useless. Mabe cheaper now, with extreme grant, but still useless.
At cold conditions, from 130 kms suddenly 80 kms rest and clima in the cabine is very very cold.
OK, so You can (in France) buy extra diesel heating - that is paradox - You again need fosil materia based fuel.
It is just dreaming without much much much better batteries and there are some physical limits for chemical processes to go over.
Posted by: Peter | 17 January 2012 at 01:14 PM
The Kangoo ZE will really take off now - this makes it the bargain of the century.
Prices start at £16,990 plus battery lease, as it has not previously been eligible for any rebate.
Since even with battery lease running costs will be way less than petrol and a maintenance contract can be had for 80% of the price of the equivalent diesel contract, and in addition in London it is exempt from a the £10/day congestion charge it is incredible value.
Posted by: Davemart | 17 January 2012 at 02:46 PM
The vans could use the cheaper new bipolar batteries from atraverda and hide an emergency genset somewhere. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 17 January 2012 at 04:45 PM
HG:
For much delievery work the range is just fine.
The battery hire costs plus electricity already work out at less than diesel in Europe if you do nay sort of reasonable mileage.
I checked the price of the regular van version in the UK and it is only around £800 cheaper than the £13592 that you would end up paying for the cheapest electric.
Maybe things will get even better, but this is already a good commercial proposition.
Posted by: Davemart | 17 January 2012 at 05:19 PM
Delivery vans are a good target for electrification as they do a predictable amount of stop-start driving in urban areas.
However, if you are trying to clean up the air for the Olympics, you would be better taking the worst polluters off the roads (or our of London) [ they might not be vehicles at all ].
This will mean removing the oldest buses and vans etc, or getting them maintained properly.
If you have a grant for diesel maintenance for vehicles over a certain pollution level, it might be a better way to spend the money and/or a scrappage scheme.
Posted by: mahonj | 18 January 2012 at 12:44 AM
I couldn't give a toss about the Olympics.
VIPs are travelling in luxury limosines whilst the people of London are prevented from normal travel, and they get luxury free seats whilst a bill for billions is landed on the taxpayer.
Another elitist scam.
I am interested in permanently reducing pollution levels by the use of forward looking technology, not a publicity stunt.
Posted by: Davemart | 18 January 2012 at 01:44 AM
Olympics or not, removing the worst polluters from the roads is the best way to reduce pollution.
Then you can propose your favoured solution.
Suppose a really bad vehicle generates 100 units of pollution, a normal one produces 10 units and the favoured solution produces 0 units.
You can replace 1 bad one, or 10 normal ones to get the same effect - which is cheaper.
You almost need people to locate the worst polluters and tell the owners to wither get them fixed or get the off the roads.
Whether you employ people to do this, or left the public report the worst offenders is a matter of taste and local morality - in some places, people would ship anyone who annoyed them, in others, they would be more honest.
If you want to solve a problem, generate a Pareto chart of the causes, and start at the big end (not the bit you like best).
Posted by: mahonj | 18 January 2012 at 04:14 AM
Alternative energy vehicles need public support to develop and be mass produced quickly. Higher subsidies are required for the first few years and/or the first few million units produced regardless of what the naysayers would say.
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 January 2012 at 09:03 AM
Trucks and buses running on natural gas would clean up the air a bit. It would not cost all that much per unit and would help them reduce their oil imports.
Posted by: SJC | 18 January 2012 at 10:04 AM
mahonj:
The best route depends on the time frame you are looking at.
Electric vehicles can come close to eliminating point pollution, and if powered largely by nuclear power as in France emit less than 10% of the CO2 of petrol cars.
Posted by: Davemart | 18 January 2012 at 03:34 PM