Low Carbon Vehicles
Choosing the right vehicle and driving in the most economical way can make a significant reduction in the level of emissions from transport.
As Scotland aims to meet world leading climate change targets, Transport Scotland works to increase walking and cycling, encourage smarter travel choices and promote better use of public transport.
Low carbon vehicles (LCVs) and more efficient vehicle engines can also help reduce transport sector carbon emissions.
Information on buying an efficient car, eco driving and energy saving tips can be found at the Energy Saving Trust.
Public consultation
A public consultation helped us determine the most effective use of targets for the development and uptake of Low Carbon Vehicles (LCVs) and alternative fuels by 2020. The results stated that Transport Scotland must provide leadership, funding and implementation to combat climate change.
Policy
Transport Scotland works with stakeholders in industry and academia to develop a shared forward looking strategy for low carbon vehicles.
Through these relationships we’ve created a Low Carbon Scotland suite of policy documents. These demonstrate the environmental and economic potential of LCVs and our strong strategic commitment to their use:
Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-2022
Low Carbon Economic Strategy (pdf 1.55MB)
Energy Efficiency Action Plan
Funding
Transport Scotland has invested in low carbon vehicles and infrastructure to support their use. A £4.2m Electric Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme for the public sector in 2011/12 was announced on 24 October, 2011:
Electric Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme
Funding enables local authorities and their partners to bridge the gap between the cost of petrol or diesel powered vehicles and their electric powered equivalents, and help drive down air-polluting emissions. Funding is also used to install charging points on public sector owned land to support the vehicles.
This builds on work carried out as a direct result of £4.3m funding in 2010/11 which has enabled Scotland's public services to purchase 145 low carbon vehicles, including cars, vans and street sweepers, and install 74 charging points across the country.
Grants for drivers
Motorists purchasing a qualifying ultra-low emission vehicle can receive a grant of 25% towards the cost from the UK Government, up to a maximum of £5,000 for a car and £8,000 for a van.
Department for Transport plug in car grant
Interest free loans of £500 to £50,000 from the Energy Saving Trust help organisations in Scotland to reduce the carbon impact and fuel costs of their transport and travel arrangements
