TOUGHER standards are being announced by the Government-funded Powershift programme to decide the level of grants it pays to users of alternatively-fuelled vehicles.

The programme provides grants of up to 75% of the extra cost of purchasing an alternatively-fuelled vehicle, based on cuts in emissions levels, but from July it will become tougher to achieve the highest grant.

Under a new two-tier system, vehicles which currently qualify for the highest level of funding under Euro II emissions levels will in future only be able to obtain a maximum 60% discount for cutting emissions by 75%.

• For further details, access the new Powershift website. Just click on the Buyers' guide menu button (left) and go to the Associations and official bodies section.