BIS says 6 successful bidders will share the match funding for gas refuelling or electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects.

A private business in Essex, three councils across Yorkshire and the West Midlands, a public body co-ordinating transport in Merseyside and a community group on the Isle of Lewis are all winners in the latest round of support from the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme.

The 6 projects will install infrastructure to support public and private sector fleets in trialling a wide range of natural gas, bio-gas and electric vehicles including buses, HGVs, and refuse collection vehicles.

Business Minister Mark Prisk says: "This funding is part of our commitment to build a low-carbon economy which will boost economic growth as well as help meet our ambitious climate change targets. It is one of the ways we are supporting changes in consumer behaviour that will drive the shift towards low carbon vehicle technologies.”

The funding is in addition to the £500,000 already committed by the Department for Transport earlier in the year.

Transport Minister Norman Baker adds: “I welcome this addition funding to support low-carbon vehicle infrastructure. Low-carbon vehicles provide significant benefits – reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality – but we need adequate refuelling points if the market for these vehicles is to grow. These projects will help to make low carbon vehicles a viable alternative for businesses and individuals.”

The green vehicle infrastructure projects are:

• Howard Tenens, Essex: Gas. Grant Award: £332,300
• Sheffield City Council, Sheffield: Gas. Grant Award: £125,000
• Leeds City Council, Leeds: Gas. Grant Award: £75,500
• Galson Estate Trust, Isle of Lewis: Electric. Grant Award: £3525
• Coventry City Council, Coventry: Electric. Grant Award: £75,762
• Mersey Travel, Liverpool: Electric. Grant award: £47,000