Scotland Launches New Electric-Car Incentive: Interest-Free Loans To Buy

Nissan Leaf in Scotland

Incentives to purchase zero-emission cars come in a wild variety of types, from California's rebates--essentially a four-figure check in the mail--to single-occupant access to carpool lanes. The U.S. government has a Federal income-tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 for purchase of a plug-in car that varies with the car's battery pack size. Now Scotland has offered one that we've not seen before--though if you have, please let us know.

The country's Energy Saving Trust is offering its citizens interest-free loans to buy electric cars, as detailed by Click Green (via ChargedEVs). Funded by Transport Scotland as part of the "Switched On Scotland" policy roadmap, the loan can be for the entire purchase price of the vehicle, up to a maximum of £50,000 (about $77,0000) or £100,000 for businesses.

"Electric cars cost around 3p per mile to run, compared with around 15p per mile for the average petrol car, and incur no road tax," said Harry Mayers of the Energy Saving Trust.

Eigg, an island in Hebrides off the coast of Scotland. [Photo by Flickr user kevinzim]

"They also help to reduce local air and noise pollution, contributing towards a greener, healthier Scotland." A total of £2.5 million has been allocated to the program, but all applications for loans must be submitted by March 31, 2016. The interest-free loans are an additional incentive on top of the U.K.'s Plug-In Vehicle Grant of up to £5,000 (roughly $7,700) for a new passenger vehicle and up to £8,000 (about $12,300) for a van.

(The U.K. includes the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.)

In addition to those incentives, the ChargePlace Scotland program offers full grant funding for installation of electric-car charging stations in private homes.

The country also offers free recharging at most of its public charging points.