More leading manufacturers join Go Ultra Low campaign as EV sales surge

Wed 18 February 2015 View all news

Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen have joined the four existing Go Ultra Low campaign members - BMW, Nissan, Renault and Toyota - to help boost awareness of the benefits of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVS). Meanwhile, the latest figures show that EV sales are rising with the 25,000th plug-in car and plug-in van grant claim recently submitted since the scheme began in 2010. The growth has prompted revisions to the plug-in car scheme.
 
The Go Ultra Low manufacturers together offer a range of 15 ULEVs, with full details of costs and performance of each available on the website, together with an online tool help people decide which car suits them best. 
The Government offers to pay £5,000 towards the purchase of every ULEV car and £8,000 towards the purchase of a van. More than 25,000 grant claims have now been submitted to government since the scheme began in 2010.
 
Government figures show that the popularity of ULEVs continues to rise, with more than 25,000 plug-in car and plug-in van grant claims submitted since the scheme began in 2010. The traditionally quiet January sales market saw nearly 2000 claims and total ULEV sales in 2014 were nearly four times the level of the previous year. The UK is now ahead of France and Germany in ULEV take-up, placing it at the forefront of this car technology. 
 
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: "The public are increasingly seeing the benefits of ultra low emission vehicles, which have low running costs and are easily chargeable at home or on the street. We now have seven manufacturers campaigning to show the wide range of styles and prices available so even more people will see what’s on offer, and the significant government help available."
 
OLEV has altered the criteria for the plug-in car grant "to take account of rapidly developing technology, and the growing range of ULEVs on the market".
 
From April 2014, eligible ULEVs must meet criteria in one of the following categories depending on emission levels and zero-emission-capable mileage:
 
  • Category 1: CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and a zero emission range of at least 70 miles 
  • Category 2: CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and a zero emission range between 10 and 69 miles 
  • Category 3: CO2 emissions of 50-75g/km and a zero emission range of at least 20 miles 
 
As announced in April 2014, vehicles in all categories will continue to be eligible for the full grant of up to £5000, until either 50,000 grants are issued or 2017, whichever is first.
 
Government has stated that the new categories should better reflect the range of vehicles on the market and make them accessible to the widest range of people. 

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