Wednesday 11 March 2020, London – The UK Government has today announced as part of the 2020 Budget that they will invest £1bn in green transport solutions, including investing £500m to support the rollout of new rapid charging hubs and extending the Plug-in Car Grant.
Helen Clarkson, CEO of the international non-profit The Climate Group, says: “This Government’s ongoing commitment to clean transport is a sign that they are taking the climate crisis seriously, which is particularly important as the hosts of the UN conference due to be held in Glasgow in November, COP26.
The electric vehicle market is booming, but we still need incentives for those who are willing to absorb the upfront costs of buying these vehicles first-hand, which are often businesses. The government’s understanding of this can be seen in the support they are promising to buyers today as well as investing in the rollout of rapid new charging infrastructure. The extension of the plug-in grant means more businesses will procure more EVs, further stimulating the second-hand market for ordinary motorists, as well as supporting the rollout of more charge points for their employees and customers. This will require continued investment from the Government over the coming years.”
The Climate Group’s business campaign for the 100% adoption of electric vehicles by 2030, EV100, has 62 corporate members, many of which are British, including AstraZeneca, BT, Centrica, Foxtons, Mitie, RBS, SSE and Unilever. Through this initiative, the UK has the second highest number of corporate fleet vehicles committed to switching to electric, after Germany.