mia electric welcomes that all three of its vehicles now qualify for the Government’s ‘Plug-In Car’ and ‘Plug-In Van’ Grants.

This follows months of close consultation and cooperation with the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) which has now deemed that mia electric’s vehicles meet all the safety, reliability, performance and warranty standards necessary for the UK market.

Having qualified for both grants, any motorist wishing to buy a mia electric vehicle when they go on sale in the UK market later this year will be entitled to a discount of around £5000. This additional Government support means the mia’s standard short wheelbase model (mia-U) will retail at approximately £21,000 and the two extended models, the mia L and the mia box van, will both retail at approximately £22,000.

mia electric particularly supports the UK government’s decision to extend the grant to vans, which are especially suited to electric because of their commercial use. Vans tend to travel the same route and distance on a daily basis and have ample opportunity to be recharged at regular stop-offs and bases.

The mia-U is currently on trial with a major UK company that is considering the switch to electric for its sizeable fleet of commercial vans.

Standing alongside the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening MP, and Minister for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk MP, at London County Hall this morning, mia electric’s Head of UK Sales, Richard Deslandes, said “These incentive schemes are absolutely vital if UK motorists are going to be encouraged to make the switch to zero-emission mobility. Our vehicles are designed specifically for inner-city environments and commercial vehicles account for a significant proportion of traffic in urban areas.

“The box van is a key component of the product range mia electric plans to bring to the UK market later this year. We hope the Government’s decision to extend the grant to cover vans will incentivise business owners to use electric vehicles and so reduce their carbon emissions.”
Justine Greening MP added: “Our new grant demonstrates that you can be a motorist and still be pro-environment.

“Cars and vans are absolutely central to people’s lives – it’s how most of us get around and for many journeys they are, and will remain, the only practical and convenient travel choice. Nevertheless climate change is a global challenge we simply have to meet head on. It cannot be ignored or side-stepped.

“The new Plug-in Van Grant – offering up to £8,000 off one of these seven innovative vans – also makes business sense as it’s been estimated that a small electric van will typically cost £100 less in fuel for every thousand miles driven compared to a diesel equivalent.”