Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the affordability of electric cars.

The Government has vehicle grant funding schemes to assist with the upfront cost of purchasing electric cars, vans, taxis and motorcycles, as well as e-cargo bikes in due course. The development of the used market for electric vehicles will also make them more affordable for more people.

Owners of both new and used electric vehicles are able to take advantage of tax incentives which favour the least emitting vehicles. In addition, they can also benefit from local initiatives, such as free parking in some areas, as well as the Government’s infrastructure grant schemes, such as the Electric Vehicle Homecharge and Work Place Charging Schemes.

Further technology innovation should also bring the price of ultra low emission vehicles down in the long term. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles has awarded over £300m to support a range of industry led R&D projects that have driven forward ultra low emission technologies and strengthened UK industrial and supply chain capability.