While Europe has been the land of small diesels for decades, air
quality concerns and consideration of fossil fuels' impact on
global warming has led EU nations to offer incentives to purchasers
of electric vehicles. In recent weeks, the UK and Germany have
announced further steps in that direction.
The UK Extends Grants and Announces New Infrastructure
Improvements
The UK has had in place a £5000 grant for purchasers of
certain hybrid and electric vehicles, but the grant expires in
March 2016. To keep up interest in these cars, the UK government has announced that for vehicles that meet
stringent new requirements—namely, cars capable of plug-in
charging, that emit less than 50 grams of carbon dioxide per
kilometer, and are capable of traveling 70 miles in zero-emission
mode—a grant of £4500 will be available until at least
March 2018. Cars with shorter zero-emission ranges will be eligible
for up to a £2500 grant.
