Extension mooted for plug-in grant scheme

9th June 2014

The grant system for low-emission vans could be extended to larger vehicles, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles has said.

Reporting on its plans for 2015-2020, the OLEV said uptake of the grants available for light commercial vehicles had been low so far and that it would consider extending the scheme “to include larger vehicles and possibly other vehicles which we have not supported to date”. 

The report also discussed plans to create more recharging points for electric vehicle refuelling stations.  For example there will be £32 million to spend on expanding the recharging infrastructure, with a rapid electric vehicle chargepoint due to be installed at every motorway service station by the end of 2014.  By March 2015, there should be over 500 rapid chargers in place around Britain.

In addition some £4 million has been earmarked for establishing an “initial network” of both CNG and LNG gas refuelling stations “to support freight and logistics operators in their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their businesses”, according to the OLEV report.

“We anticipate the funding package will contribute to increasing the uptake of gas and biomethane HGVs, as the current lack of public refuelling infrastructure is one of the major factors preventing the market from taking off,” Christopher Snelling, the FTA’s head of urban logistics, was quoted as saying in Motor Transport magazine.  “Ultra low emission vans are not yet widely commercially viable, so the continued support in this area is vital to help develop this market.”

More details about the plans are due to be announced in the autumn.