The British government has announced that the electric vehicle grant – which had been the subject of some doubt since the recent change of government – will be introduced at the beginning of next year. However, as Transport Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed, the total sum set aside for the scheme (which could see grants of up to £ 5,000 per vehicle), is now £ 43 million until the end of March 2012. The previous government had intended to make some £ 230 million available. A simple sum shows that if all grants amounted to the maximum of £ 5,000, (and an upper limit of 25% of the purchase price), a little under 9,000 vehicles could be funded in this way during the first phase of the scheme. Apart from ecological considerations, the government’s decision reflects its desire to create a climate where investments can be made with a degree of certainty by those involved in developing this type of vehicle, according to a spokesperson. Decisions on future years will be made in January 2012.

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