The SNP Government is providing over £30 million this financial year to accelerate the shift to zero emission transport, including measures to help more people and households on lower incomes to make the switch to electric travel.
The funding includes support for zero emission community transport and car clubs in addition to funding interest free loans for electric vehicles.
Prioritised are applications regarding electric vehicles by businesses and people living in rural areas, those operating light commercial vehicles as part of their business, and the taxi sector.
Business support will focus on smaller organisations – such as those in rural North Ayrshire, and on Arran and Cumbrae, which are dependent on tourism and the provision of hospitality.
Zero emission car clubs offer communities flexible and affordable access to the latest electric vehicles without the financial commitment of car ownership.
Over the last ten years – SNP Government grant funding has:
provided over £165 million of interest free loans to support the purchase of over 6100 vehicles
provided over £4.9 million to support the installation of over 16,000 home charge points across Scotland
provided over £10 million to deliver 1500 charge points to businesses
established 38 car club vehicles with another 16 planned, with vehicles covering over 400,000 zero emission miles across Scotland
This incentivisation funding is separate to the £50 million investment over the same period to establish 2,200 public charge points. A separate £47 million has also been invested to introduce 3450 vehicles into the public sector fleet.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“Increasing accessibility to electric vehicles to those who need it most is a hugely helpful investment to help the SNP Government achieve a 20% reduction in overall car kilometres travelled by 20%.
“The £30 million for zero emission grants and loans will be refocussed to support the many people and businesses, particularly in rural areas across North Ayrshire and our islands, who require access to vehicles.”
Application for 2022/23 open on Wednesday 08 June. Full information on grants and loans is available here.
More information on the Scottish Government’s Mission Zero for Transport can be found here.
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