Volvo becomes first OEM to qualify four models for UK plug-in grant
Volvo Trucks has become the first commercial truck OEM in the UK to qualify four different models for the Government’s £25,000 plug-in grant on new registrations.
Following the approval of the FH Electric and FM Electric, along with the Volvo FL Electric 4×2 rigid and the FE Electric 6×2 rigid, Volvo Trucks now provides a lineup of medium and heavy-duty commercial EVs eligible for the UK’s plug-in vehicle grant (PIVG). These grants enable UK businesses, organizations, or individuals to receive up to five “large truck grants” each fiscal year (defined as 01APR to 31MAR) of £25,000 each, with a total of 100 large truck grants available across the market annually.
After the initial allocation of 100 grants, the grant amount decreases to £16,000 for the subsequent 250 trucks, and further drops to £5,000, with a maximum limit of 1,500 grants.
To be eligible for the PIVG program as a “large truck,” the vehicle must:
- be heavier than 12,000kg
- have CO2 emissions of at least 50% less than the equivalent conventional Euro VI vehicle that can carry the same capacity
- be able to travel at least 60 miles without any tail pipe emissions
In addition to the four Volvo Trucks models listed, above, the list of PIVG eligible vehicles reads:
- Electra e-Compact
- Electra e-Star 27-350
- DAF CF Electric Tractor Unit
- Dennis Eagle E-Collect RCV
- Renault Trucks D-Range
“The availability of our full range of electric vehicles represents a new era in road transport, and demonstrates our clear market leadership in electromobility,” says Hannah Mayo, Director of New Vehicle Sales, Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland. “We ended last year with more than 250 electric truck orders secured for the UK and Irish markets. With the (PIVG) 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.”
A Volvo Trucks representative ensures that the company’s UK dealers are well-acquainted with the PIVG process and stand at the ready to assist customers in completing grant applications for new truck registrations.
Electrek’s Take
Whether we’re talking about Europe, North America, or anywhere else – Volvo Trucks is serious about decarbonizing the world’s commercial fleets. Moves like buying Proterra’s battery business and investing heavily in Mack’s new MD line have been driving record EV sales quarter after quarter, and only the most serious geopolitical events seem to stand in the way of their continued success.
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Tesla has wiped off the 26,000 miles on the odometer of a Cybertruck in service, scratched the vehicle, and then returned it to the owner like nothing happened.
A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Oregon was quite surprised when he went to pick up his Cybertruck, which was in service to install a new lightbar, fix some panel gaps, and figure out an ABS alert that wouldn’t go away.
According to a thread on the Cybertruck Owners Club, Tesla had wiped the odometer clean on the Foundation Series ‘Cyberbeast’, which had over 26,000 miles on it.
The owner shared a video of the Cybertruck’s odometer going from 0 to 1 mile for the second time:
The odometer on the vehicle was wiped and both the app and service many also showed the same mileage.
The owner shared a screenshot of the app after 15 miles:
He went to the online forum for advice:
Anyone else have their odometer Thanos-snapped after a controller swap? Can Tesla unsnap it or am I forever “True Mileage Unknown”?
Interestingly, Tesla is currently being sued for allegedly messing with the odometers of its vehicles. However, the lawsuit is for accelerating the mileage, not reducing it, like in this case.
It was not the only surprise from this service visit for this Cybertruck owner.
The owner was not satisfied with the lightbar installation, which he claims has a half-inch gap on the passenger side while it is flush on the driver side. He wrote:
It’s basically smiling sideways at everyone.
It’s also unclear why Tesla was messing with the vehicle’s tailgate, but it ended up having a bolt moving around it, causing scratches and Tesla left a bolt unbolted:
At this point, the truck was returned with more problems than it had when it entered service.
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Nissan is on the brink of collapsing. After the Honda deal fell through, it looks like another Japanese automaker is tossing it a lifeline. As Nissan struggles to stay afloat, Toyota is emerging as a potential “backer” in a new tie-up.
Are Toyota and Nissan partnering?
“If we don’t take action now, the situation will only get worse,” Nissan’s President, Ivan Espinosa, said during a press conference on May 13.
Facing falling sales, ballooning debt, and slumping profits, Nissan introduced a new recovery plan last week, “Re:Nissan.” The struggling automaker aims to cut costs by 250 billion yen to return to profitability by FY 2026.
As part of its efforts to turn the business around, Nissan will cut 20,000 jobs by FY2027. It’s also abandoning plans to build a new EV battery facility in Japan. Seven other plants will be closed, including one in Thailand and two in Japan.
After its planned EV merger with Honda fell through in February, rumours surfaced that Nissan was scrambling to find another partner.
According to a new report from Japan’s MainiChi, a Toyota executive recently reached out to Nissan about a potential partnership. The tie-up could involve Toyota acting as Nissan’s “backer” to support it while it restructures.
Nissan and Toyota both unveiled a wave of new electric vehicles set to roll out over the next few years. The upgraded Nissan LEAF EV will arrive in the US and Canada later this year with more range, an NACS port, and a new crossover style. It will be one of ten new Nissan or Infiniti models to arrive by 2027.
In Europe, Nissan will launch the next-gen LEAF later this year, followed by the new Micra EV and Qashqai electric crossover. In 2026, the new Nissan Juke EV will join the lineup.
Meanwhile, Toyota’s upgraded bZ electric SUV (formerly the “bZ4X”) will arrive at US dealerships in the second half of 2025.
In 2026, the smaller C-HR electric SUV and rugged bZ Woodland EV will follow. By the end of the year, Europe will see three new Toyota electric SUVs: the C-HR+, Urban Cruiser, and upgraded bZ4X.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota already has a stake in several Japanese automakers, including Subaru (20%), Mazda (5.1%), Suzuki (4.6%), and Isuzu (5.9%), so backing Nissan wouldn’t come as a shock.
Espinosa said Nissan was open to new partnerships. Nissan’s chief said the company will continue collaborating with others, including Mitsubishi, which will use the upcoming LEAF as the basis for its new EV for North America.
Japanese carmakers have been notoriously slow in shifting to all-electric vehicles, which is now costing them in key overseas markets like Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and others.
Chinese EV leaders, like BYD, are quickly expanding overseas to drive growth this year. Next year, it will launch its first kei car (see the first spy shots), or mini EV, which is already being called “a huge threat” to Japan.
Pooling resources and teaming up may be the best (or only) option at this point. Can Toyota help Nissan turn things around? Or will it be too little, too late? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Check back soon for details. This is a developing story. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
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