In a bid to keep the streets buzzing with eco-friendly rides, the UK government has announced a sparky extension to the Plug-in Taxi Grant, now electrifying journeys until April 2025.
Since its electrifying debut in 2017, the Plug-in Taxi Grant has juiced up over £50 million to energize the purchase of more than 9,000 zero-emission taxi cabs. The result? London’s streets are now charged up with over 54% of licensed taxis running on electric power!
The plug-in taxi grant (PiTG) has been rolled out as a turbocharged incentive scheme to accelerate the adoption of purpose-built ULEV taxis. Its mission: to close the financial gap between traditional gas-guzzlers and the shiny new ultra-low emission rides.
So, what’s the buzz about PiTG?
This electrifying scheme offers a shocking discount of up to a maximum of £7,500 or £3,000, depending on the vehicle’s range, emissions, and design. Oh, and don’t forget, it’s a must that the vehicle should be wheelchair accessible, ensuring a smooth ride for everyone.
Under the scheme, eligible taxis are sorted into two categories based on their carbon emissions and zero-emission range. It’s like sorting them into different power leagues!
Category 1 PiTG (up to £7,500): For the high-flyers with a zero-emission range of 70 miles or more and emissions of less than 50gCO2/km.
Category 2 PiTG (up to £3,000): For those cruising with a zero-emission range of 10 to 69 miles and emissions of less than 50gCO2/km.
Revving up for a greener future, all taxi drivers and businesses eyeing a new purpose-built taxi can rev up their savings with this grant, provided their vehicle is eligible.
But wait, there’s a pit stop!
Affordable and equitable access to rapid EV charging remains a bump in the road for taxi drivers, especially in city centers. The struggle is real!
Speaking of charging, how many public charging points are there in the UK?
As of January 2024, there were a shocking 55,301 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, spread across 31,445 charging locations. That’s a powerful 46% increase since January 2023! But hey, that’s not all. There are over 700,000 charge points installed at homes or workplaces, adding more juice to the electric scene.
And now, let’s talk taxes and charges.
When it comes to VAT, electric vehicle charging through public points is charged at the standard rate. No shortcuts here! Combine that with high energy costs and the struggle to find off-street charge points, and running an EV can feel like climbing a mountain for many drivers.
But fear not, the electrifying future of transportation in the UK is sparking brighter than ever, with zero-emission cabs leading the charge towards a greener tomorrow!
Post time: Feb-28-2024