A new round of the Scottish Government’s Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund is now open, offering eligible community transport operators significant financial support to switch to fully electric vehicles.

The Scottish Government has announced a further £4 million of funding to help community transport operators invest in zero-emission vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Administered by the Energy Saving Trust, the Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund can cover 100% of the cost of a fully electric vehicle, up to £75,000, with no match funding required. Where accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure are required, the total grant award can increase to up to £95,000.

For eligible organisations looking to replace an older petrol or diesel minibus, the scheme could therefore make the move to electric considerably more affordable.

What can the Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund cover?

Funding is available towards fully electric:

• cars and MPVs
• vans
• minibuses
• wheelchair-accessible vehicles
• accessibility adaptations
• associated EV charging infrastructure.

The vehicle itself can receive funding of up to £75,000. Accessibility adaptations and an eligible charge point can take the maximum overall award to £95,000. Funding excludes VAT unless it is deemed non-reclaimable.

The fund has already helped community organisations across Scotland move away from diesel vehicles. Transport Scotland says that since the programme launched in 2021, it has enabled community transport organisations to procure 118 new zero-emission vehicles.

Who is eligible?

The fund is aimed specifically at community transport.

Applicants must be a recognised community transport organisation or operator in Scotland with a UK bank account and must be able to demonstrate that they provide community transport services.

Organisations should normally have been operating for at least 12 months, although newer operators may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Successful applicants must also commit to quarterly monitoring covering areas such as mileage, journeys and passengers carried.

This means that schools, charities and other organisations may be eligible where the transport service they provide meets the definition of community transport, rather than simply because they operate a minibus.

Schools have previously benefited from the scheme. Camphill School Aberdeen, for example, appears among previous recipients and has used the funding to purchase a fully electric minibus for the children and young people it supports.

Applications are first come, first served

Organisations considering applying shouldn’t leave it too late.

Funding is being allocated on a first come, first served basis and is subject to availability. Vehicles funded through the scheme must also be delivered, and eligible charge points installed and claimed, by 12 March 2027.

A formal vehicle quotation is required as part of the application. This must be provided on the supplier’s headed paper and include confirmation that delivery can take place before the March deadline.

That’s where speaking to Rivervale Minibus before submitting an application can help.

How Rivervale Minibus can help

At Rivervale, we do far more than simply supply a minibus.

Our team can help you explore the electric vehicle options available, understand which vehicle best suits your organisation and provide the formal vehicle quotation and expected delivery timeframe needed to support your funding application.

We can also help organisations looking for wheelchair-accessible electric minibuses and provide advice around the practical considerations of moving a community transport fleet to electric.

And our support doesn’t end when the vehicle arrives.

Rivervale Minibus can support organisations with MiDAS and Accessible MiDAS driver training, safety inspections, LOLER and annual weight checks, compliance support and ongoing fleet management advice.

Our aim is simple: Making Minibuses Manageable.

Whether you’re replacing a single vehicle or looking more broadly at how your organisation operates its transport fleet, our team can help you understand the vehicle, training, safety and compliance requirements involved.

Talk to Rivervale before you apply

With funding being allocated on a first come, first served basis, now is the time to start looking at your options.

Speak to the Rivervale Minibus team and we can discuss your requirements, identify suitable electric vehicles and provide a formal quotation to support your Plugged-in Communities Grant application.

Call 01869 253744 to get started.