Overview
- The government, which announced the £1 billion package on Wednesday, said it will help firms buy electric trucks and vans and add chargers at depots.
- New vehicle grants offer up to £81,000 off the heaviest zero‑emission trucks, covering as much as 40% of the price, with up to £5,000 off new electric vans.
- A £170 million boost to the Depot Charging Scheme will fund up to 70% of installation costs for depot chargers, capped at £1 million per site for vans, coaches and electric HGVs.
- Officials link the support to the Zero Emission Vehicle sales rules that ramp up through the decade, including targets of 33% for new car sales and 24% for vans this year, rising to 80% and 70% by 2030 before a 2035 phaseout of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.
- Industry groups welcomed help with upfront costs and depot charging, though ChargeUK warned high running costs on public networks could still deter fleets, while ministers highlighted earlier steps to back the £170 billion logistics sector that employs 2.7 million people.