The Deputy Prime Minister has announced the main elements of a £500m package of measures to support the development and use of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) to 2020.

Included in the package is at least £200m to extend the duration of the Plug-in Car Grant and a range of measures designed to improve access to low carbon fuels (including a rapid charge network).

It provides a £32m funding boost for charging infrastructure including plans to install rapid chargepoints across the ‘M’ and ‘A’ road network by 2020 so drivers can find a rapid chargepoint when they need one. Rapid chargepoints mean that a car can be charged in as little as 20 minutes.

Key elements of the package are:

  •       At least £200m for the continuation of the plug-in car grant;
  •     The grant to stay at £5,000 per car until 2017, or the first 50,000 vehicles, whichever is the sooner;
  •     Over £30m for other ULEV types including vans;
  •      £100m for ULEV-specific R&D;
  •      £35m for a new city scheme competition;
  •      £20m for ULEV taxis;
  •      £30m for low emission buses;
  •      £32m for infrastructure including rapid chargers;
  •      £4m for HGV gas refuelling infrastructure.