Government extends plug-in van and truck grants by two years
Tue 15 March 2022
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The Government has announced a two-year extension to the availability of plug-in van and truck grants to encourage further uptake.
The Government says that this should enable support for the purchase of tens of thousands of greener vans and trucks. So far, grants have funded more than 26,000 electric vans and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) across the UK since the programme launched in 2012.
The UK had the highest number of plug-in electric vans sold in Europe in 2021 and there were around four times as many grant applications compared to 2020.
Transport minister Trudy Harrison said: "This will support our vital, ongoing work to clean up our air in towns and cities right across the country and build back greener.
"Government grants for electric vans and trucks has helped kickstart the market, which now offers more than 30 models of electric vans and trucks which qualify for such schemes."
The Government has also announced it will continue to allow drivers holding standard car driving licences to drive electric goods vans at a higher weight limit, up to 4.25 tonnes (compared to a 3.5 tonne limit for diesel vans).
This takes into account the additional weight of electric vehicle batteries and makes it easier for businesses and drivers to make the switch.
The eligibility criteria for existing plug-in vehicle grants will also be recategorised from the spring with a focus on heavier vehicles. From 1 April 2022, the threshold to claim the small truck grant of up to £16,000 will be increased from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes. Vans up to 4.25 tonnes will be able to claim the large van grant of up to £5,000.
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