Electric Vehicles

(asked on 12th October 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce a vehicle replacement scheme to help make the transition to electric vehicles affordable for families on average and below average incomes.


Answered by
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman
This question was answered on 22nd October 2018

In January 2018, the Government published its Industrial Strategy Automotive Sector Deal to support the continuing competitiveness of the UK’s automotive sector and its local supply chains.

The Government’s Road to Zero Strategy – published in July – set out its ambitions for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040. The transition will be supported by a package of demand, supply and infrastructure measures, and £1.5 billion in funding. This includes assisting consumers in meeting the cost of ultra low emission vehicles with a variety of plug-in grant funding schemes for eligible ultra low emission cars, vans, taxis and motorcycles.

The Government’s recent international Zero Emission Vehicle Summit emphasised its ambitions to lead this global transition, bringing other nations along through the ‘Birmingham Declaration’. At the Summit the Prime Minister announced £106 million in an R&D funding package for innovators in ultra low emission vehicle technology, including in new battery and low carbon technologies.

By supporting new ultra low emission vehicles, the Government is also helping to build the second hand market in the UK, which already offers a wide range of more affordable models. Owners of used ultra low emission vehicles are able to take advantage of the favourable tax regime now in place, alongside local initiatives such as free parking and grant schemes to help with the cost of installing chargepoints.

There are no plans to introduce a vehicle scrappage or replacement scheme.

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