Government Launch New Car Buying Incentive

The UK Government have announced that they will be introducing the ‘Ultra-low carbon car incentive programme’.


From January 2011, buyers of electric cars in the United Kingdom will be entitled to a ‘Plug-in car grant’ of 25% off the list price of a new car up to £5,000. The new car has to be either electric, plug-in hybrid or a hydrogen fuel-cell car that meets the requirements set by the OLEV (Office for Low Emissions Vehicles) - the only criteria is that it must be able to be ‘plugged in’ or self charging such as a hydrogen fuel celled.


£30million will be funded by the government for a network of ‘plug in’ placed around areas such as car parks, supermarkets, and retail areas for drivers to ‘plug in’ their cars to charge up. Over the next three years, London, Milton Keynes and the North-East of England will have more than 1,000 plug-in places installed.


John Lewis, Chief Executor of BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association) has welcomed this incentive - as major businesses that run fleet cars also qualify for the incentive. He said:


“Business fleets already buy more than half of all cars registered each year so it makes sense that they will be able to take advantage of this incentive,” he added:


“A discount of up to £5,000 is attractive, but buyers are not stupid. Fleets will need some assurance that the electric vehicle they are buying will have a second-hand value in three, six or even ten years’ time."

“The three-year battery warranty outlined in the DfT’s qualification criteria is a bare minimum requirement so we are pleased that buyers will have to be given the option of paying for an extended 5-year warranty.”


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25-Feb-2010
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