Isra-Mart srl:Updated: Government names cars eligible for £5,000 EV grant

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The government has today published its long-awaited list of those electric cars that will be eligible for its new grant scheme, which from next month will knock up to £5,000 off the purchase price of zero emission vehicles.

The first nine cars selected as eligible for the new grants are: Mitsubishi iMiEV, smart fortwo electric drive, Peugeot iON, Citroen CZero, Nissan Leaf, Tata Vista EV, Toyota Prius Plug-in, Vauxhall Ampera, and Chevrolet Volt.

Each of the cars are expected to be priced between £20,000 and £30,000 meaning the grants will reduce the cost of eligible cars by up to a quarter.

Only the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, smart fortwo electric drive and Peugeot iOn will be available when the grant scheme launches in January, although the Nissan Leaf and Tata Vista are slated for a UK launch in March and the Citroen CZero is expected to go on sale in early 2011. The Vauxhall Ampera, Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid, and Chevrolet Volt are all expected to become available a year later in early 2012.

The list is largely in line with expectations, although there is a notable absence in the form of Tesla's high profile Tesla electric sports car, which the government obviously deemed unsuitable for a grant given it costs in excess of £80,000.

A number of EV start ups are likely to be angered by their absence from the list, despite government assurances that it will be periodically updated to include new vehicles.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond predicted the grants would release significant pent up demand for electric vehicles.

"Government action to support affordable vehicles and more local charging points means we are on the threshold of an exciting green revolution - 2011 could be remembered as the year the electric car took off," he said. "The British public has in the past shown it's ready to embrace new technology and take practical steps to adopt a lifestyle kinder to the environment, so we could really be at the start of something big."

The list of eligible cars was published alongside the announcement that the Midlands, Greater Manchester, the east of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have successfully bid for a share of a £20m government fund as part of the second phase of the Plugged in Places initiative, which aims to help local councils install public recharging points.

Combined the regions are expected to install over 4,000 charging points at homes, on-street parking locations, public buildings, workplaces and retail car parks over the next few years.

The government also confirmed that environmental consultancy AEA has been selected to administer and manage the grant scheme.

Under the new contract, which was awarded following a competitive bidding process, AEA will deliver a web-based portal for use by car dealerships and manufacturers when the scheme begins in January 2011 and carry out random checks to ensure the grants are being awarded in line with the rules of the scheme.