Bikes left out of electric vehicle plans

Motorcycles are to be excluded from a government scheme offering motorists up to £5,000 toward the cost of an electric vehicle.

Drivers will be offered money toward electric cars but buyers of electric bikes will not get a penny under plans announced today. 

A spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “Cars are the biggest source of emissions from road transport – 58% of all road transport emissions, compared to motorcycles which contribute just 0.5% – which is why this funding is focused specifically on cars.”

The move is part of £250 million plans to promote low carbon transport over five years. Subsidies of between £2000 and £5000 will be available to buyers of electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars from 2011.

But riders will get no new incentive for buying electric bikes such as the £5,095 Vectrix VX-1 scooter, which has a claimed top speed of 62mph and a range of up to 55 miles.