Government plug-in grant for electric motorbikes continues as car levy scrapped

Despite the Government recently announcing the end of its plug-in car grant scheme, electric bikes remain unaffected, with manufacturers continuing to report growing sales.

On Tuesday June 14, Transport Minister Judy Harrison said the £1500 electric car grant scheme would end, stating that resources would be refocused towards improving the charging infrastructure and supporting other electric vehicles including taxis, vans/trucks – and bikes, for whom the current grant continues.

She said: “Having successfully kickstarted the electric car market, we now want to use plug-in grants to match that success across other vehicle types, from taxis to delivery vans and everything in between, to help make the switch to zero emission travel cheaper and easier.”

Latest Government figures show that battery and hybrid electric vehicles now make up more than half of all new cars sold and that fully electric new car sales have risen by 70% in the last year, and now represent one in six joining UK roads.

That’s mighty impressive, but the same can’t be said for the electric bike market, which is why the bike grant continues. This incentive sees battery motorcycles priced up to £10,000 receive 35% off, up to a maximum of £500, and mopeds get 35% off up to a value of £150.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), the total UK electric bike sales for May 2022 were 567 – just 4.75% of the total motorcycle market. Figures are up 11.2% on last year, though, with sales at 510.

Logan Black of Sunra UK, one of the leading electric bike firms added: “The government’s decision to close the plug-in car grant this week is no huge surprise, but on the plus side, it’s certainly a welcome boost for two-wheeler adoption.”