The Scottish Government has invited community transport operators to bid for a £4m zero emission vehicles and charging fund.
The Plugged-in Communities Fund is available for the purchase or lease of electric minibuses and vans, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, and the associated charging infrastructure. Vehicles must be zero-emission and fully electric.
Operators can apply for 100% of costs, up to £75,000, for a new fully electric community transport vehicle for community transport organisations: this excludes VAT (unless deemed non-reclaimable), and no match funding is required.
Funding also covers any necessary accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure up to a total grant award of £95,000.
Minister for connectivity Jim Fairlie said: 'The community transport sector provides many of our most vulnerable groups with access to essential goods and services and to employment, social or leisure activities.
'We recognise that these organisations may not have the same access to finance as commercial entities. We’re making £4m available for zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure for operators which provide affordable transport for those who are unable to use conventional public transport, or where public transport is not available.'
Since the launch of the Plugged-in Communities Fund in 2021, over £4.2m in grants have been provided to 49 community transport organisations to procure 64 new, zero emission vehicles to replace their current diesel vehicles.
Click here for full details on how to apply and eligibility criteria.
