£5,000 Electric Car Scheme Launched by the UK Government

Experts have hailed 2011 as a breakthrough year for electric cars, as mass market manufactures roll out new models. Electric cars are now set to get a big boost from a £5,000 car grant introduced by the government this week.

Now motorists will have a choice of just one subsidized car to buy outright as the project is launched, the Mitsubishi i_MiEV. Later on, motorists should have a choice of nine or 10 fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars by 2012.

Among one of the first that will be available will be the Nissan Leaf. This car should become available on this scheme by March. This car has been billed as the first mass market electric car. It is currently being made in Japan and will be made in Sunderland from 2013 onwards. Of course, this car will just be joining the several other models that will be available to lease starting January, including the Peugot iOn, Citren Czero, and an electric version of the Smart fortwo.

The director of the cult documentary Who Killed the Electric Car, Chris Paine, had his own two cents to say on the matter: This is a breakthrough year. For the first time in 90 years, people will actually have a chance to buy electric cars from major car makers. Companies like Nissan, GM, and Tesla will be the first out of the gate. However, almost every car company has their own plans to introduce their own electric car. Everyone is in a race now to make the best electric car, and that is what’s going to make the next few years so exciting for all.