Dealers can expect incentives for customers to purchase electric vehicles to remain in place until at least 2020.

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is currently analysing responses to a consultation document on how a further £500 million of Government cash might be spent to support the uptake of low emissions vehicles between 2015 and 2020.

Anna West, head of consumer initiatives at the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles, which is charged with encouraging the adoption of ultra-low emission vehicles, said an announcement would be made in the spring on the draft package of support in advance of implementation from April 2015.

West said: “We think there will be some form of purchase incentive available from April 2015.”

West recognised the importance of incentives being in place for fleet customers specifically in order to encourage the adoption of plug-in cars.

She said: “We recognise that fleets are leaders and we need to get them on board to make sure our agenda to encourage adoption of ultra-low emission vehicles is a success.

“We have had a fantastic response from fleets so far with almost 50% grant uptake being from the business sector. Where fleets lead others will follow.”

The Government has forecast that by 2050 it anticipates almost every car and van on the nation’s roads will be an ultra-low emission vehicle.

OLEV believes cars on the road will be a mixture of pure electric vehicles, plug-in petrol and diesel and hydrogen models.