The UK has had a bit of a slow start getting plugged in – last June a survey showed little consumer awareness of EVs, and more recently London’s public charging network has been plagued by problems – but the Brits seem to be turning up the voltage now. This month, the Department for Transport reported that over 25,000 plug-in vehicle grant claims have been submitted since the subsidy program began in 2010.

Total sales of ULEVs (which includes EVs, PHEVs and FCVs) in 2014 were 4 times the level of the previous year. The UK is now ahead of France and Germany in ULEV adoption.

In the UK, some 25 car models and 7 van models are eligible for the plug-in grant, and 40 more models are expected to come to market over the next 3 years. The government will continue handing out grants of up to £5,000 ($7,700), until 2017, or until 50,000 grants have been awarded.

Source: UK Department for Transport via Green Car Congress
Image: Nicolas Raymond