UK To Offer Rs 5 Lakh Plus Subsidy To Those Shifting To Electric Under A New Scrappage Policy
Britain is soon expected to come with a new car scrappage scheme. The scheme will pay a hefty incentive to those exchanging their petrol and diesel cars for all electric ones. Johnson is reportedly eyeing July 6 as a potential date for announcing the scheme.
In an effort to revise its mobility options to accommodate more green vehicles, Britain is soon expected to come with a new car scrappage scheme. As per latest reports, the scheme will pay a hefty incentive to those exchanging their petrol and diesel cars for all electric ones.
A new report by Telegraph tells us that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering giving car owners up to 6,000 pounds (~Rs 5.7 lakh) if they plan to to swap their diesel and petrol car for an electric vehicle.
In addition to increasing EV sales, the new policy is also meant to revive the Covid-19 hit economy of the country. Auto sales had been majorly hit during the lockdown and as mobility resumes in the nation, UK now wants it to be powered by electric motors.
Johnson is reportedly eyeing July 6 as a potential date for announcing the new car scrappage scheme.
(Representative Image: Reuters)
As and when the vehicle scrappage policy is brought to effect, the scheme would be another in line by European nations to push the use of green mobility options. France earlier announced a massive 8 billion euros (~Rs 66,671 crore) plan to help its automobile majors including Renault, Peugeot and Citroen to revive from the losses faced during the Coronavirus induced lockdown.
A Move Across Europe
Just like the UK, France was not just interested in getting vehicle sales back to normal but instead bring in better, cleaner vehicles in use. ¡°Our country should embody this avant-garde,¡± said French President Emmanuel Macron. ¡°We need not only to save (the industry) but transform it,¡± he cleared his intentions with the stimulus package.
Following France was Germany, which recently decided to offer a stimulus package to its auto sector to boost car sales in the country. For this, Germany¡¯s Ministry of Economics has proposed a 5 billion euro (~Rs 42,000 crore) buyer bonus scheme as part of the package.
Other Green Efforts
The Italian city of Milan sees this transition to green mobility through the increased use of bicycles. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, in a recent interview, mentioned that at least 70% of Milan residents now back plans to switch 35 km (22 miles) of street space exclusively for the use of bicycles and pedestrians.
(Representative Image: Reuters)
UK has its own plans for starting the use of electric bicycles exclusively on some routes. Four ¡®Future Mobility Zones¡¯, areas within the country that will see a trial of green mobility options, have been designated, including West Midlands, West of England Combined Authority, Portsmouth and Southampton, and Derby and Nottingham.
E-scooters will be the first of such mobility options to be tested, with their trials set to begin this month as part of the scheme. The commencement of trials has been brought forward to next month from next year, citing a world taking to the streets fresh after the Coronavirus lockdown.
