The government’s Plug-in Car Grant has had a relatively slow uptake, new figures show.
Junior transport minister Norman Baker, answering a parliamentary question, revealed that there have been 534 participants in the scheme.
Funding has the capacity to cover the sale of 8,600 new cars ahead of its review in January 2012.
Launched in January 2011, the grant offers £5,000 towards the cost of a new electric vehicle and aims to encourage more people to adopt alternative fuel transport and reduce their carbon emissions.
However, just two of the nine eligible low carbon cars are on the UK market, which could be one reason why uptake has been slower than expected, namely the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
What’s more, government figures show that in 2009 there were just 55 electric cars sold, illustrating that there has been a significant rise in low carbon cars sold.
Over the coming months, consumers can expect the Chevrolet Volt, Vauxhall Ampera and Toyota Prius to enter the market, all of which are eligible for the grant.
Posted by Mark Stephens
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For more information please see: Plug-in Car Grant