Mitsubishi Outlander is the most popular ‘green’ car in the region
THE government has published a list of the top-six selling ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEV) in each UK region.
A ULEV is a vehicle that uses lowcarbon technology, emits less than 75g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, and can emit zero emissions of carbon dioxide for at least 10 miles.
They can include not only “pure” electric vehicles but also plug-in hybrids and extended-range electric cars.
The new data was released by transport minister Michael Ellis in response to a parliamentary question from Labour’s Seema Malhotra.
It showed there were 349 Mitsubishi Outlanders registered for the first time in the East Midlands in the year to March 2019.
The BMW 5 Series was the second most popular ULEV model, with 329 new registrations.
The Land Rover Range Rover (271), Nissan Leaf (247), BMW I3 (156) and Renault Zoe (150) completed the list.
Some - but not all - ULEV models are eligible for a government grant that can cover 35 per cent of the purchase price, up to a maximum of £3,500.
To qualify, a vehicle must have carbon dioxide emissions of less than 50g per kilometre, and be able to travel at least 70 miles without any emissions at all.
The Nissan Leaf is one of the models that qualifies, along with the Renault Zoe and BMW I3.
The Mitsubishi Outlander, BMW 5 Series and Land Rover Range Rover are among the ULEV models that don’t qualify for a plug-in grant.
The Mitsubishi Outlander was also top of the ULEV charts in Scotland, Wales, the West Midlands and the South West of England.
The Nissan Leaf is winning the ULEV battle in the North East and North West, while the BMW 5 series was top in Yorkshire and Humberside, the East of England and Northern Ireland.
In London, the most popular ULEV vehicle was the LEVC TX - a plug-in Hackney carriage.
The sale of ULEV models has slowed in the UK after the government restricted buyers.
Until October 2017, plug-in hybrid cars were eligible for a grant of up to £2,500.
That was scrapped - while the maximum grant for pure plug-in cars was cut from £4,500 to the current £3,500.
The total number of new ULEV models registered in the UK grew only slightly from 46,996 in 2017 to 48,944 in 2018.
Prior to that it had tripled in just three years, having stood at 14,672 and as few as 1,084 in 2011. the subsidies available to