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 or plug-in 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
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.”
