UK Investing £43 Million Into Low-Emission Vehicle Support

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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.

British flag

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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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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