THE Scottish Government has hit out at Westminster’s Department for Transport (DfT) after it was revealed that the subsidy for “green” cars is to be reduced from November 9.
The DfT announced that it will cut grants for electric vehicles (EVs) by £1000 and will disqualify a host of plug-in hybrid models from the popular Plug-in Car Grant (PICG) scheme.
The UK Government was effectively saying that the grant scheme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars has been a victim of its own success.
In a statment, the DfT said the grant rate for Category 1 vehicles with zero emissions will move from £4500 to £3500 and Category 2 and 3 vehicles – usually hybrids – will no longer be eligible for the grant.
The PICG was first introduced in 2011, designed to help stimulate the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. So far it has supported the purchase of more than 160,000 new cars. With plug-in hybrid models like the Mitsubishi Outlander becoming popular among consumers the government is focusing on zero emission models such as the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are among the cleanest on the road, and can deliver significant CO2 savings compared to petrol/diesel cars. These vehicles will continue to receive support through lower car tax rates, grants for charging infrastructure and local incentives such as free parking.
The Scottish Government has been operating its own subsidy schemes for EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as it attempts to phase out new petrol and diesel cars coming on to the market over the next 15 years.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It’s disappointing that the Department of Transport has decided to cut the level of support available to prospective electric and hybrid electric owners,
“The Scottish Government is committed to phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032 and growth in the registration of new EV and PHEV vehicles is higher in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. This year we are making available almost £50 million to continue to support the take up of low emission vehicles.
“We will consider the implications of the DfT announcement for
growth in greener transport in Scotland and provide further information in due course.”
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