Well things are moving in the right direction over here in the cash strapped UK. Government have authorised the £5,000 EV grant for qualifying vehicles. UK government funds £43 million electric switch-on - Parker's Qualifying vehicles are as follows; Chevrolet Volt Due Spring 2012 Vauxhall Ampera Due Early 2012 Nissan Leaf Due March 2011 Renault Fluence Due Summer 2012 Peugeot iOn Due Autumn 2010 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Due Early 2011 Citroen C-Zero Due Early 2011 I notice that they have the Volt down twice, once as the Chevrolet and also as a Vauxhall Ampera (Vauxhall is the UK version of Opel/GM in the UK). As Chevy also have a line up here in the UK, I wonder if we will be lucky enough to get both versions - the Volt and the slightly differently styled Ampera? The Renault Fluence [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Fluence"]Renault Fluence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] is a new one on me, but does look interesting. The Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_iOn"]Citroën C-ZERO - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] are both rebadged versions of the Mitsubishi iMev. Interesting how the above indicates the Peugeot will be released before the Mitsubishi original. I guess this must be a mistake.
Interesting... I thought it is EV grant. Why are the Volt and Ampera qualified to the grants when it comes equipped with the gas engine and exhaust? If plugins are included, why isn't PHV Prius on the list?
I'm guessing it's because it isn't an official model as yet. All the others are all pretty much ready to roll. The original rules would have excluded the Volt and the Plug In Prius but I think they have or are in the process of being relaxed to include them. The final vehicle details have yet to be agreed. Get up to £5,000 towards an ultra-low carbon car : Directgov - Newsroom
From the Government NEwsroom link... Which cars can get the grant To qualify for the grant, an ultra-low carbon car has to meet certain safety and performance criteria. Previously, these were listed as: a minimum range of 70 miles each time the vehicle is charged a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour a minimum three-year warranty But the new criteria are 'coming soon'. edit: at least they have got the organisational chart sorted out http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/165252/orgchart.pdf
I notice from the Parkers link. The list of cars is what Parkers think will be on the list. As yet, there is no official list.
It's because there isn't an official list yet. Parkers are just listing vehicles they expect to be on the list. The British Gov. have yet to make up their minds about the new qualifying criteria.
I have a feeling Toyota will be on there with the Prius Plug In. Remember where the Auris hybrid is being made! The Government will not want to fall out with Toyota the way things are at the moment. At least I hope so as I hope to get a Plug In Prius when they're out in a couple years.
I think a max of 60 mph is a typo. It should have been capable of 60 mph so as to avoid nonsense cars like the G-Wiz. The three year warranty would also exclude them.
Maybe there is some minimum amount of battery required (to stop someone simply putting a plug on a car to top off the 12V battery and calling it a PHEV to get the 25% discount) and the Prius PHEV doesn't meet it? Or maybe toyota aren't planning on releasing the PHEV here? And yes cabbie, we should get both the Ampera and the Volt, though I don't really see the need. it's possible the Volt will be cheaper and lower specced (Chevrolet is a pretty crappy brand here) and Ampera pricier but nicer.
Just had a look at the Chevy website and you're right, it appears we may be getting both versions. Ampera: The electric car Chevrolet Future and Concept Cars - Chevrolet UK And Flan, you'll notice that Chevy are also going to import the Camaro to our shores. A nice 6.2 litre V8 - just to balance out the Volt! I bet they won't make the Camaro in right hand drive, so I predict they'll sell a total of 7!
Asked my dealer yesterday when we were test driving a t-spirit and he thinks the PHV version will be £40,000 when it gets here !! ... Mind you with the 18 week build wait they've quoted for my solar/led pack the phv might be here ;-) Jon
The Camaro really appeals to the boy inside me, it's just so big and noisy and square and RED! I'm sure Clarkson will drive one sideways and they'll then sell a few. Just doesn't fit right in the chevrolet brand though, i just think of the chevrolet matiz.... £40k is too much for the PHEV. if the Ampera is £40k the prius needs to be under £35k. If the ampera is £30k then i don't think they can sell the PHEV without significantly cutting the price of the regular prius.
