The funds include £32m for infrastructure support with a wave of chargepoints to be introduced at locations including homes, hospitals, train stations and A-roads. Of this figure, £15m will be used to continue the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. ULEV drivers will receive a 75% grant of up to £700 towards installation from 13 April 2015.

In addition, £8m will be used to support public charging infrastructure across the UK which, alongside the £15m Highways Agency funding announced in autumn 2014, will deliver chargepoints on major roads and across towns and cities – bidding for these schemes will open in May 2015.

And £9m will be used to address other infrastructure priorities, for example, ensuring that the UK’s chargepoint network remains accessible and open for users – further details will be announced later this year.

In addition, another £11m of funding has been announced and will be provided to 50 organisations, ranging from small businesses to major universities, working together on 15 research and development projects, including on the creation of a  recycled carbon fibre material that will bring lightweight, low-cost vehicle chassis structures to the mass market.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer announced the funding during a visit to Nissan’s European technical development centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, today (26 February 2015).

Baroness Kramer said: ‘The funding announced today marks another milestone in the Government’s support for ultra low emission vehicles as their popularity takes off.

‘Our support to the ULEV industry will help ensure the innovation that is a hallmark of the British automotive industry will continue to drive development in this vital growth sector.’

The Government added that it is also working closely with industry on the Go Ultra Low campaign to increase consumer and fleet uptake. Seven major vehicle manufacturers and the government are backing Go Ultra Low to highlight the increasing variety and benefits of ULEVs.

The support comes as the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) increases the Plug-in Car Grant to 35% of RRP as grant claims rise four-fold.