11 Apr 2018
A finance scheme to persuade motorists to buy electric cars in Scotland has only been used 500 times since its launch in 2011.
Despite SNP efforts to push Transport Scotland’s Electric Vehicle Loan initiative, only 214 loan applications have been made in the last year.
It means Scotland is well off course to encourage more electric cars in time for the SNP’s petrol and diesel ban in 2032.
The country’s four largest cities will have low emission trial zones by 2020, with the trials to start later this year in Glasgow.
But since the launch of the loan scheme – which hands out interest-free loans of up to £35,000 – there has only been limited interest from Scotland’s motorists.
And a drive to get black cab drivers on board has also failed, with just 166 Hackney applications in the past seven years.
The figures were obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through Freedom of Information.
Scottish Conservative shadow environment secretary Donald Cameron said:
“The SNP is completely out of step with its own policy here.
“It is miles away from being able to declare Scotland diesel and petrol free by 2032, which will in turn render low emission zone trials in Scotland’s main cities utterly worthless.
“The SNP has been completely irresponsible when it comes to this policy.
“Instead of working with the UK Government, the rest of Europe, and even the industry itself, it’s brought in its own fancy target just to be different.
“That may play well to the extreme green elements of the Yes movement, but it will infuriate ordinary drivers up and down the country.”
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