Office for Low Emission Vehicles

Our transport system is fundamental to our economic strength and quality of life. However, a sustainable future for transport requires a transformative shift to ultra low carbon.

The Governmnt is committed to assisting the decarbonisation of transport and the transition to a sustainably lower carbon vehicle fleet. In addition to incentives through the tax system and support for European wide regulation to tighten vehicle standards, we have already committed around £400m of support to encourage the development and uptake of ultra low carbon vehicles. 

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), a cross Whitehall team is dedicated to taking forward this ambitious programme. Through OLEV, working with UK industry and the regions, we aim to position the UK as a world leader in the development, demonstration, manufacture and use of ultra-low carbon automotive technology.  You can find the OLEV’s organisation chart below.

OLEV’s organisation chart (PDF, 36 KB)

For enquiries about low carbon vehicles: LowCarbonVehicles@dft.gsi.gov.uk

For enquires about OLEV: olev.enquiries@olev.gsi.gov.uk

Summary of OLEV’s key activities

Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK

On 16th April 2009, the Secretaries of State for Transport and Business, jointly announced the UK's strategy for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles. The strategy was published by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) .

This document gives an overview of the Government's activity over the next 5 years for research, demonstration and incentives, for consumers and industry. This includes reference to the £250m of consumer incentives to stimulate the take up of electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles (see below).

Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK (PDF, 119 KB)

Electric Vehicles

There are two types of EV, both of which offer lower CO2 emissions than normal internal combustion engine vehicles:

  • All-electric EVs are vehicles with an electric motor, with power coming from a rechargeable battery;
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by both mains chargeable batteries and a normal internal combustion engine. It is likely that PHEVs could be run in all-electric mode for short to medium distance journeys with the petrol engine used for longer journeys.

Carbon benefits

EVs potentially offer significant environmental  benefits compared with  existing internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs).

Not only are they zero emission at the point of use but research suggests, using the current UK power mix, EVs could realise  up to a 40% benefit in CO2 savings compared with a typical petrol  family car in the UK over the full life cycle.  Larger emission reductions  can be realised over time if the UK moves to lower carbon sources of  power generation. 

In 2008, the Departments for Transport and Business commissioned the UK Centre of Excellence for fuel cells and low carbon technology(Cenex) and the consultancy firm Arup to look at the environmental and economic benefits and impacts that would arise from mass market EV introduction:

Other support for EVs

EV’s also benefit from a range of significant national and in some cases local incentives:

National incentives: 

  • Vehicle Excise Duty exemption
  • Enhanced Capital Allowance
  • Lowest rate of Benefit in Kind /company car tax
  • Lower rate of VAT for domestic electricity

Local measures, for example:

  • Congestion Charge exemption in London
  • Free/reduced price parking in the City of Westminster

Consumer incentives for EVs and PHEVs

On 16 April the DfT said that it would create a £250m scheme to reduce the price of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, from 2011 onwards, to help motorists buy them. Around £20m of the £250m will be used to develop an electric vehicle charging infrastructure framework helping create a UK network of electric car cities. This document outlines our proposals for the eligibility criteria and scheme operation for both initiatives. 

We expect to provide further information on the operation of the consumer incentive scheme in early 2010.

Next steps in delivering the consumer incentive programme for electric and plug-in hybrid cars (PDF, 119 KB)

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Includes information on infrastructure and planning.

Research, Development and Demonstration Programmes

Includes information on a number of programmes and research on low carbon vehicles.

For related documents, pages and internet links, see the column on the right.