Transport Minister Baroness Kramer has announced £5m funding to deploy ultra-low emission vehicles and charging points for the UK government and public sector fleets.
It will allow every central government fleet to review its arrangements and consider how greener vehicles can be used. Over 150 plug-in vehicles will be added to government fleets in the first wave of the scheme.
It is also expected to allow fleets to introduce over 150 plug-in vehicles.
A review of the Government Car Service, which provides vehicles for ministers, is already underway and the first plug-in hybrid and electric cars will be deployed this autumn.
Shortly afterwards, another 135 plug-in cars and vans will be available for public sector fleets, including police forces, councils and the NHS.
In both phases, chargepoints will also be installed to provide infrastructure support for the new cars and vans.
Cars and vans will be recommended on a like-for-like basis and the reviews will consider the whole life cost of the vehicles to ensure that each replacement makes economic sense.
ULEVs will be a major area of future growth for the hugely successful UK automotive sector, worth over £11 billion to the economy.
The £5 million scheme for getting ULEVs into government fleets is in addition to the support for the Go Ultra Low campaign being delivered in partnership with vehicle manufacturers and £500 million announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in April 2014 which includes:
– at least £200 million to continue the Plug In Car Grant, cutting up to £5000 off the price of a new ULEV car
– £100 million for research and development
– £35 million cities scheme
– £20 million to encourage ULEV taxis
– £30 million to boost the low emission bus market
– £32 million for more chargepoints
