£4.3m for Electric Vehicles

17/06/2010

Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, has announced a new, £4.3 million funding programme which will support local councils and other public sector organisations in the purchase of electric vehicles.

Designed to help meet Scotland's ambitious climate change targets, the Scottish Government scheme will provide finance to meet the difference in cost between an electric car or van and its petrol or diesel equivalent.  Currently all-electric vehicles are more expensive to purchase than conventional vehicles but cheaper to operate.  Crucially, they produce zero emissions in operation.

Funds will be allocated to public bodies via local Community Planning Partnerships.  The scheme is expected to become operational by the autumn. 

The first minister announced the new funding at the 'Delivering on 2020' conference held at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth, to discuss steps towards meeting the Government's climate change targets.  Announced last year, these are among the most ambitious commitments set out by any nation and won praise for Scotland at the international Climate Change Conference, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, earlier this year. 

Mr. Salmond said:  "Scotland has established world-leading targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and so tackle climate change.  Meeting those targets will require a wide range of actions from reducing, re-using and recycling waste at home and at work to becoming more energy efficient and shifting our economy from carbon-heavy power sources to clean, green alternatives, particularly offshore where we have huge, untapped potential.

"The low carbon vehicle scheme will enable local authorities and other public agencies to invest in eco-friendly vans and cars this year and help drive down air-polluting emissions."

Mr. Salmond also commented that it is "even better" when one of the leading manufacturers of all-electric vehicles is based in Scotland. 

Glasgow-based Allied Vehicles managing director, Paul Nelson, commented: “Electric vehicles present a huge opportunity to help reduce harmful pollution and to address Scotland’s ambitious climate change agenda.  However, there is still a real need for positive intervention to encourage vehicle operators to embrace this innovative new technology.

“Through our Allied Electric division we have now developed a complete range of electric cars and vans, all of which produce zero emissions whenever they are in use.”

Nelson added: “This new funding is an important step forward in furthering Scotland’s lead in electric vehicle technology and will also generate additional manufacturing and engineering jobs here in Glasgow.  By increasing market uptake it will also help drive down costs and so make electric vehicles more affordable for everyone in Scotland.” 

Cosla Regeneration and Sustainable Development spokesperson, Cllr Alison Hay, commented: "Councils are working towards achieving a significant drop in the carbon emissions from vans and cars we use in delivering services.

"This funding is very welcome and will be helpful to local authorities in establishing demonstration projects."

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