A plug-in car is an electric vehicle. This technology means that no exhaust emissions are produced and the vehicle is charged by plugging it into the mains via a normal plug socket. You can therefore lower your carbon footprint as well as your overall environmental impact by using an electric car. Most electric
vehicles have a range of about 40-50 miles and a top speed of around 50 mph, therefore they
are most suited to urban driving [1]. The transport secretary Phillip Hammond has launched a new electric charging infrastructure strategy that outlines how a recharging network will eventually be deployed. Although public charging stations will be available, the preferred option is still for the vehicles to be charged overnight when energy costs are the cheapest [2].
From January 2011, motorists purchasing an eligible ultra-low emissions cars will receive a grant of 25% towards the cost of the car up to a maximum of £5000. The Plug-In Car Grant has been designed to help make the whole-life costs of a qualifying car more comparable to a petrol or diesel car. The Plug-In Car Grant will be reviewed yearly to make sure that it continues to be value for money for the taxpayer, through assessment of the scheme and the level of subsidy provided. Both private and business consumers will able to benefit from the grant and the Government is adopting a “technology neutral” approach to the problem of reducing transport emissions by allowing all cars with tailpipe emissions of 75/km or less to be eligible – regardless of whether they are electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen-fuelled. As of March 2011, 465 cars had already been ordered through the Plug-In Car Grant.
There are now 10 electric cars that qualify for a Plug-In Car Grant – these are:
- The Mitsubushi i-MiEV.
- The Smart fourtwo electric drive.
- Peugeot iOn.
- Nissan Leaf.
- Tata Vista.
- Citroen CZero.
- Vauxhall Ampera.
- Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybid.
- Chevrolet Volt.
- Renault Fluence ZE.
New designs are already being developed that will have a higher speed limit and a wider range. As technology improves and more people invest in electric vehicles, the prices will eventually come down as the costs of production decrease, making an ultra-low carbon car a realistic option for anyone looking to buy a new car.
[1] http://dft.gov.uk/topics/sustainable/olev/plug-in-car-grant/
