They’re certainly not for everyone but if you have been pondering over whether to opt for an electric or hybrid vehicle, now really is a good time to make the switch.
The Government has just announced that the current Plug-in Car Grant will continue into next year, so that more motorists can take advantage of the subsidy. This is good news given that new vehicle technologies generally come with a bit of a price premium.
Drivers of these vehicles are hopefully already benefiting from reduced running costs and exemptions from paying road tax and the London Congestion Charge, and so it’s no surprise that we’ve seen registrations of plug-in cars accelerate rapidly throughout this year.
The Government wants to make the UK a world leader in ultra-low emission technology and so I guess it has no choice but to put its money where its mouth is. Momentum really is building and I’m sure that this move will help.
It’s certainly something that you should factor in when you come to change your vehicle, but as ever, it’s one of a number of things to consider alongside the type of journeys that you do, how much space you need and the overall costs of the vehicle. However, for someone already considering a plug-in vehicle, this announcement might just give them the added impetus required to give it a go.
Wayne Millward is a consultant at Arval.
