UK Investing £43 Million Into Low-Emission Vehicle Support
The UK government will be investing £43 million ($66 million) into the support of ultra-low-emission vehicles through 2020 — thereby supporting the buildout of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as well as funding further research into electric car and electric bus technologies.
Of that £43 million figure, £32 million ($49.2 million) will be spent on EV charging infrastructure, and £11 million on the support of 14 “low emission vehicle technology” research and development projects. These projects include work undertaken by a total of 50 different organizations, apparently — including those from a number of different small businesses.
The UK’s Department for Transport stated that of these numbers, £15 million ($23.1 million) would be put to use to provide drivers of EVs with grants (the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme), and £8 million ($12.3 million) would be utilized directly to install new charging infrastructure throughout the country.
By the terms of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, EV drivers can receive up to £700 ($1,077) towards the installation of a charging system. This offer starts from April 13, 2015.
The bidding process on the charging station buildout is expected to begin in May.
In addition, £9 million ($13.85 million) will be used to deal with other infrastructure issues — making sure “that the UK’s chargepoint network remains accessible and open for users,” for example.
Amongst the research projects set to receive funding are: one working to create “a novel recycled carbon fiber material that will bring lightweight, low cost vehicle chassis structures to the mass market;” one developing a zero-emissions electric bus outfitted with a hydrogen fuel cell range extender; and one developing “a prototype zero-emissions power and cooling system adapted from a cutting-edge liquid nitrogen powered engine that will dramatically reduce the CO2 emissions from refrigerated trucks and air-conditioned buses.”
Sounds like good and interesting stuff. I’d say that there’s probably a good chance that these investments will pay off for the UK — and help drive the growing industry there.
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UK should better work with Tesla and build a 5 billion giga factory and a Tesla production plant in the UK instead of a minor 66 million for inventing the wheel.
Well this is better as compared to some other countries and places who as od right now do nothing! 🙁
Why would the UK want a Tesla factory when it’s already one of the leading manufacturers of the LEAF at Nissan Sunderland? Tesla is just one of many succesful purveyors of EV’s, not the alpha and omega of the industry.
More to the point, these technologies are not ‘reinventing the wheel’. Many of the proposed ideas are sensible, especially the improved lightweight materials and the more efficient cooling systems for cool trucks. That alone might end up avoiding more carbon emissions than the tiny number of Teslas currently on the road every could.
£43 million over five years (<£9m a year) is just one step beyond tokenism. The Chinese government is thinking of putting $16 billion into a charging network and other ev support (link). They aren’t committed to it yet, but that’s what a real commitment looks like. Angela Merkel promised a charger policy in Germany; if it comes it will also be on a serious scale.
Bundestag just approved the e-mobility law, the Bundesparlament still needs to approve it, but it’s safe to say they will.
The idea is driving on bus lanes, free parking spaces and reserved charging spots. Municipalities can pretty much decide how they want to do this.
I have honestly hoped for more…