The NMDA has received the standard, brief response from the Department for Transport (DfT) to its inquiry about the missing promised plug-in grants for motorcycles.
The National Motorcycle Dealers Association had written to the DfT outlining its concerns that the plug-in motorcycle grant scheme announced in March 2015 had still not been delivered.
Stephen Latham, head of the NMDA, which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, said: “Last month we wrote to Andrew Jones MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport raising our concerns that the grant has still not been put in place for consumers and thus, dealers and the industry.
“We were not aware if the promised grant had been revoked under the new government and to-date there has been no further mention in action towards implementing it.
“The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has now responded to our letter stating that they are continuing to work with stakeholders on the details of the scheme and will make further announcements in due course.
“The NMDA will continue to monitor this closely.”
The grant scheme was approved in principle in March 2015 under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government, the Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP announcing that motorcycles and scooters would join cars, vans, trucks and buses in the government’s drive for greener vehicles.
It was stated that up to £7.5 million would be set aside to boost the uptake for electric two-wheelers and help bikers bridge the cost gap between a zero emission electric motorcycle and conventional petrol versions. The grant would offer up to £1500 off the purchase price and allow motorcyclists to reduce both their running costs and environmental impact.
Increased use of electric bikes, whose sales have been blighted by the announcement and subsequent inaction, would also cut congestion, and BDN has been running a campaign and petition to get the government to honour its promise.