Plugged-in to ultra low emissions

More people are to be given the opportunity to use ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) thanks to a £700,000 investment fund from Transport Scotland.

Plugged-in Households will allow housing associations to apply for funding to procure the services of car clubs, comprised of electric vehicles, so that tenants and local residents can hire the cars when they are required.

The fund will be administered by Energy Saving Trust and will help to improve access to ULEVs and allow more households to consider the scheme as an alternative option to owning an electric vehicle. It builds on the Scottish Government’s existing offering of interest free loans to give more drivers the opportunity to experience electric and plug-in hybrids.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Connectivity and Infrastructure Michael Matheson said:

“The Scottish Government has an ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032 and to do this we need to widen access to electric vehicles to communities across the nation.

“Plugged-in Households is an innovative way of doing this. It will give both housing association tenants and local residents the opportunity to access electric vehicles as they are required, instead of drivers having to buy vehicles out-right. It will also help address concerns around access to off-street charging infrastructure and the affordability of ULEVs.

“Our support to encourage electric vehicle use is wide-ranging, from incentives for public sector organisations, businesses and motorists as well as continuing investment to improve the charging infrastructure across the country. Plugged-in Households is a fantastic new option and it will allow more motorists to make their contribution to improving our air quality.”

Head of Transport at Energy Saving Trust Matthew Eastwood said:

“Plugged-in Households enables access to electric vehicles irrespective of income or location. Not-for-profit housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland can apply for grant funding to procure the services of a zero emission car club for use by their tenants, their own use and that of the wider local community.

“Workshops are taking place in Glasgow on 22 October, Edinburgh on 24 October and Inverness on 26 October for interested housing associations and cooperatives to attend and learn more. Application forms and further information including eligibility criteria are available on the Energy Saving Trust website, the deadline for applications is 19 December.”