The UK’s electric vehicle market received a £540 million boost from yesterday’s Autumn Budget 2017 announcements, with the Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) and EV charging prioritised.
With additional investment of £100 million, the PiCG will continue until at least 2020, while £400 million will be invested in EV charging infrastructure, and £40 in charging R&D.
The EV charging funding is likely to help support the UK Government’s Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill, currently being discussed in Parliament. Part of the bill is to see more charge points installed at large fuel retailers, and easier access and payment.
Of the spending, £200 million will come from government coffers, with the remaining half from private investment. The £40 million investment in EV charging R&D though is to support charge point manufacturers.
No changes to funding levels or vehicle categorisation for the PiCG have been announced as yet, meaning that buyers of pure-EVs will continue receive up to £4,500 off the cost of their new car, and PHEV drivers up to £2,500 as long as it meets certain range and emissions criteria, and costs less than £60,000.
Other electric vehicle elements in the budget announcements included a clarification of Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rules. It has been confirmed that EV drivers charging their car at the workplace will not be hit by any BIK charge on the electricity used.
To find out more on the Autumn Budget 2017 announcements, visit Zap-Map’s sister site Next Green Car.
