VOLVO Trucks has become the first HGV manufacturer in the UK to have four different models of low emission vehicle approved for the government’s plug-in grant of up to £25,000 on new registrations. 

This follows approval of the FH Electric and FM Electric, both as 4x2 tractor units and with the maximum six batteries.

Two FM Electric models are currently being used as part of a three-year trial project in Scotland to help decarbonise the forestry sector. 

The HGVs join the Volvo FL Electric 4x2 rigid and the FE Electric 6x2 rigid, which have already been approved for the grant.

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The scheme enables a business to receive up to five large truck grants each financial year at £25,000, with a total of 100 large truck grants available annually.

Once these limits are reached, the grant is paid at £16,000 for the next 250 grants and each business can get up to 10 grants at the £16,000 rate.

Hannah Mayo, director of new vehicle sales at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, said: “The availability of our full range of electric vehicles represents a new era in road transport and demonstrates our clear market leadership in electromobility.

“With the grant now extended to include the FH and FM Electric, there’s an extra incentive for UK fleets to begin the transition. Plus, with the grant scheme soon resetting for the new financial year, it’s the perfect time to be preparing applications.”

As we have reported, Scotlog Sales of Inverness recently took delivery of a new 44-tonne wagon, which is transporting timber shipped in from the west coast to be hauled from the Port of Inverness to the West Fraser site at Dalcross.

The new 'wagon-and-drag' truck – a rigid vehicle and trailer – is part of a three-year trial testing two state-of-the-art electric vehicles to move timber, cutting down on emissions.

Another electric Volvo  is also being run by James Jones and Sons in the South of Scotland.