A major £35m package to boost the uptake of ultra-low emission cars and scooters was unveiled by Transport Minister John Hayes.

The fresh funding commitment will see thousands more electric vehicle chargepoints installed on streets and at workplaces across the UK – after the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered rose by 250 per cent in just two years.

The government is also buying two brand new Nissan LEAF electric cars for the Government Car Service – on top of four that are already in use. The vehicles are built at the Nissan motor manufacturing plant in Sunderland - a symbol of our world-leading automotive industry which the government is committed to supporting.

The announcement is part of the government's plans to improve air quality, and it comes as Defra launch a new consultation on introducing Clean Air Zones in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton by 2020 - delivering on the government's commitment to create cleaner air and reduce emissions.

"No matter what mode of transport you need - a scooter to get to work, a car or a van to run your business - we are here to help you do it with zero emissions. The number of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads are at record levels and new registrations have risen by 250 per cent in just over two years. We are committing £35 million to help install new chargepoints and offer new grants as we aim for nearly all cars and vans on our roads to be zero emission by 2050," said Transport Minister John Hayes.

The funding is being delivered as part of the government's commitment to invest £600m in ultra-low emission vehicles by 2020. The pioneering £20m pot to encourage the uptake of ultra-low emission taxis is the first of its kind, and will give councils the opportunity to apply for funds to install chargepoints to be used by local taxi fleets. A £7.5m workplace charging scheme, due to be launched this autumn, will be open to eligible private and public sector workplaces in the UK to support the installation of charging infrastructure for their staff and fleet use.

Oct. 17, 2016 Driving photo: Visionect

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