[WATCH] If you're buying an electric car, these grants will make it cheaper

Ian Borg unveils grants for people buying electric cars and other clean vehicles

A total of €2.5 million have been allocated to help drivers purchase cleaner modes of transport, such as hybrid plug-in and electric vehicles.

Motorists wanting to scrap their old car in exchange for a new M1 category or M1 plug-in hybrid vehicle will be able to access grants ranging from €800 to €2,000, with €1.5 million of the total allocation going towards this measure.

Transport Minister Ian Borg highlighted the success of last year's scrappage scheme, which had a €1.8 million take-up. "If this years €1.5 million is all taken up, we will look to offer more funds," he said.

"The 'Transport 19' measures we have put in place are the most generous of any European country," the minister underlined.

Individuals, local councils, registered NGOs and private companies who opt to buy an electric car will be able to apply for grants of €2,000 to €7,000, out of a total €600,000 dedicated to this scheme. "This will help make electric cars more competitive," Borg said, and he noted that local councils had invested in offering drivers of such vehicles more charging points.

"Local councils are under pressure because people don't always agree with having some of their parking spaces reserved for charging electric vehicles - and we recognise the effort the councils have made in this regard," he said.

The full €7,000 is available to those registering a new M1 or N1 electric vehicle while scrapping a car with a traditional engine which is at least 10 years old. Those who purchase a new electric car without scrapping their old one will be given €6,000.

Those registering an imported electric vehicle which is not more than 36 months old and with less than 15,000km on the clock can apply for €2,000. New electric quadricycles or electric motorcycles will get a €3,500 grant.

Pedelecs, electric motorcycles and LPG cars

Connected to this scheme is an additional allocation of €100,000 in €400 grants for individuals buying a new pedelec or electric motorcycle, moped or tricycle.

Drivers converting their internal combustion engine cars to autogas or LPG will get €200 grants, with €50,000 in total going for this measure.

The government is also aiming to incentivise accessible private transport, by allocating a total of €100,00 in €10,000 grants for those registering a new wheelchair accessible taxi or chauffeur driven vehicle. The scheme is limited to five taxis and five chauffeur driven vehicles and only applies when another vehicle, which is at least ten years old and has had a valid license for five years, is de-registered and scrapped.

New car importers who want to equip their garages to service electric vehicles will be given up to €25,000 in grants, with €80,000 in all having been set aside for this measure.

An additional scheme, the first of its kind in Malta, will see €100,000 allocated for those retrofitting their diesel-engined vehicle with an HDDF system. Grants of €800 will be made available to those upgrading their engines to Euro V emission standards.