The Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants and the Depot Charging Scheme (DCS) aim to tackle two of the biggest barriers to businesses making the switch - upfront costs and access to charging.
With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatening to keep pressure on oil prices, the Department for Transport鈥檚 Office for Zero Emission Vehicles noted that 鈥榞lobal fuel price uncertainty is challenging for businesses鈥� and said that these grants will support a switch to electric, reducing exposure to price uncertainty.
The truck grant will offer savings of up to 拢81,000 off the heaviest zero emissions trucks, covering up to 40% of the cost. The van grant will continue to offer discounts of up to 拢5,000 off the cost of electric vans.
Under the depot charging scheme, businesses and public authorities could save up to 拢1 million, covering up to 70% of the cost, when installing charging infrastructure for vans, coaches, and eHGVs, thanks to a 拢170 million boost to the programme.
Aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister Keir Mather, said, 鈥淭his 拢1 billion investment cuts cost for British businesses, supports jobs, cleans up our roads, and gives operators protection against shifting global fuel prices.
鈥淭he logistics sector is the backbone of the UK economy, worth 拢170 billion and supporting 2.7 million jobs. We鈥檙e helping them expand and decarbonise their fleets whilst saving them cash, driving growth up and down the country.鈥�