£1.5bn package announced to help Britain switch to electric vehicles

The government is set to extend the Electric Car Grant scheme by a year as it announced another £1.5bn towards supporting the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.

More than 35,000 drivers have been helped in switching to an electric vehicle (EV) since the scheme was launched in July, as their upfront costs were cut by up to £3,750.

During the budget next week, the Labour Party is expected to announce a further £1.3bn for the Electric Car Grant, along with £200m to speed up the rollout of thousands of charge points across the UK, bringing the total investment to £1.5bn.

Figures for the month after the scheme was launch showed more than a quarter (26.5%) of cars sold in August were EVs, according to data from motor lobby group the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Data from the same organisation shows EVs took a 22.4% share of the new car market in the first 10 months of the year.

Under the UK government’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year are required to be zero emission, which generally means pure electric.

The ZEV mandate requirement will increase each year, rising to as much as 80% in 2030.

Sales of new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel will be banned from 2030.

As it announced its latest plans, the government said the proposed funding would also help local authorities ramp up charging infrastructure on local streets so it is easier for everyone to get access to reliable charging.

The cost of public charging will be reviewed, the government added, as it noted how the price to charge an EV publicly has risen in recent years.

“The government is fully committed to the transition to electric vehicles, which is key to meeting our net zero goals and will drive growth and productivity across the UK,” it said.