The UK government’s efforts to boost adoption of what it calls “ultra low emission vehicles” (ULEVs) seem to be yielding some results. In the first quarter of 2015, 9,046 new ULEVs (EVs, PHEVs and FCVs) were registered, up 366% from 1,789 in the first quarter of 2014.

The UK’s plug-in car and van grants were introduced in January 2011 and February 2012 respectively. Buyers can receive 25% of the cost of a car (up to £5,000), or 20% of the cost of a van (up to £8,000) for qualifying models.

The most popular ULEV models in the UK are the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which sold 4,596 in the first quarter, and the LEAF, which sold 1,705.

The UK’s overall auto market is the second-largest in Europe (after Germany), and saw growth of 9% in 2014, well above the EU average of 6%.

“The Go Ultra Low campaign is making low emission vehicles an increasingly popular choice,” said Transport Minister Andrew Jones. “The government is investing £500 million over the next 5 years in making them more accessible to families and businesses across the country. It’s a great example of Britain leading the way in developing sustainable transport options that are affordable for everyone.”            

Source: Gov.uk
Flag Image: Nicolas Raymond (CC BY 2.0)