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.
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