Government backs electric vans and trucks with £1bn investment
The UK government has announced it is offering businesses £1bn in grants to adopt electric vans and trucks.
It has announced that organisations can save up to £81,000 off the heaviest zero emission trucks and up to £5,000 off zero emission vans.
In addition, local authorities can save up to £1m when installing charging infrastructure for electric vans, coaches and HGVs as part of a new Depot Charging Scheme.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said: “This £1bn investment cuts cost for British businesses, supports jobs, cleans up our roads, and gives operators protection against shifting global fuel prices.
“The logistics sector is the backbone of the UK economy, worth £170bn and supporting 2.7 million jobs. We’re helping them expand and decarbonise their fleets whilst saving them cash, driving growth up and down the country.”
Skills
Meanwhile, the Institute of the Motor Industry has welcomed the investment but called on government to support the skills and training required to support EV uptake. This comes after the latest IMI TechSafe data revealed that only one in four UK technicians are currently qualified to work on electric vehicles.
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI, said: “This investment is a very positive step and will help remove some of the financial barriers for businesses looking to electrify their fleets. However, funding vehicles and infrastructure is only part of the solution. Without the skilled workforce to maintain, repair and safely handle these vehicles, particularly high-voltage systems and batteries, the transition risks being constrained.
“We cannot afford a mismatch between the number of electric vehicles on the road and the number of qualified technicians able to support them. Targeted government support for training and upskilling is essential to ensure the UK has the capability, confidence and safety standards needed to deliver net zero. Skills must be treated as a core part of the infrastructure.”
