A slow start for the Plug-In Car Grant scheme has not caused it to be scrapped as the government has today reassured the green car sector will continue until 2015. The scheme which offers 25% off the price of eligible electric and plug-in hybrid cars up to a value of £5,000, is costing £300m to run. It was also announced that the scheme was being extended to include plug-in vans at a discount of 20% up to the value of £8,000.
“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,” said Transport Minister Norman Baker in a statement. “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 factors influencing their decision on what to buy.”