13 October 2023
Up to £10,000 grant for new fully electric commercial van
The A3 Electric vehicle (EV) grant scheme offers grants of £5,000 for a small and £10,000 for a large new fully electric light commercial vehicle for businesses and charities to switch from their diesel van.
To be eligible businesses need to do at least 150 journeys annually - that's approximately 3 trips a week or 12 trips a month - on the section of the A3 between the A31 to Farnham junction and the Guildford University of Surrey junction.
Financed by National Highways and delivered in partnership with SCC and Guildford Borough Council.
It is part of Electric Towns and Cities initiative (ETCI)- Guildford, which also includes a rapid EV charging network and active travel programme.
These initiatives are being put in place to lower the air pollution on the A3 in Guildford
Who is it for?
- Businesses, charities, organisations trading for at least 2 years in the UK
- Who own or lease a diesel van for at least 1 year
- Drive at least 150 journeys a year on the highlighted A3 section (see map below)
- And have received less than £315,000 in subsidy in the last 3 years
What can they get?
- £5,000 grant against a small new electric van from eligible vehicle list, purchased through an accredited dealer
- £10,000 grant against a medium or large new electric van from eligible vehicle list, purchased through an accredited dealer
Why these initiatives?
The A3 is part of the strategic road network managed by National Highways.
The section of the A3 that runs through Guildford exceeds the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions level with the highest recorded nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration of anywhere on the Strategic Road Network in England (excluding London). Poor air quality affects everyone's health, particularly the most vulnerable people in society. Experts have analysed the data and evaluated a number of solutions.
Surrey County Council, Guildford Borough Council and National Highways are now working together to tackle a specific air quality challenge on the A3 in Guildford. The 3 elements which form part of this £11million initiative have been determined to be the best value and fastest action in lowering the level of air pollution on this road section. Whilst focusing on the most significant contributors of the pollution, the scheme aims to improve air quality in ways that encourage a change to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable forms of transport without putting jobs, livelihoods, and businesses at risk.
The 3 elements of this Electric Towns and Cities Initiative are delivered in partnership with Surrey County Council, National Highways and Guildford Borough Council.
More information on the air pollution on this section of the A3 can be found on the Working to improve air quality on the A3 in Guildford - Guildford Borough Council page. You can access the A3 Guildford report, which looked at the traffic, journeys and sources of pollution.
The report determined that most vehicles using the Guildford A3 section are making journeys which do not start or end in Guildford; employment zones in the vicinity of the A3 are the origin or destination for a large number of vehicles; 80% of the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions are from diesel light commercial vehicles and cars; and light commercial vehicles make up 15% of traffic but account for 45% of emissions.
If you have any questions about the scheme or the application process please contact [email protected]
