Community transport organisations across Scotland have a new opportunity to make the move towards electric vehicles through the Plugged-in Communities Fund.
The Scottish Government has announced a further £4 million for the latest round of the fund, helping community transport operators invest in zero-emission vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.
The scheme includes electric minibuses and wheelchair accessible vehicles, making it particularly relevant to charities, community transport groups and other eligible operators considering replacing or expanding their current transport provision.
For organisations considering an electric minibus, Minibus World can help with the vehicle side of the process, from discussing seating and accessibility requirements to identifying a suitable specification and preparing the supplier quotation required for an application.
Speak to our Minibus Team about your vehicle requirements and quotation.
The Plugged-in Communities Fund is a Scottish Government initiative designed to help community transport organisations transition from conventional vehicles to fully electric, zero-emission transport.
The latest funding round makes a further £4 million available for electric vehicles, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, alongside charging infrastructure.
Since the scheme launched in 2021, Transport Scotland says it has already helped community transport organisations procure 118 new zero-emission vehicles to replace diesel vehicles.
For many community transport operators, the scheme can significantly reduce the upfront cost of moving to electric.
The current fund can cover 100% of eligible vehicle costs up to £75,000 for a fully electric community transport vehicle.
There is no match funding requirement.
VAT is excluded unless it is considered non-reclaimable.
Eligible zero-emission vehicle types currently include:
Funding can also contribute towards necessary accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure, with the maximum total grant award increasing to £95,000 when these are included.
Up to £75,000
towards an eligible electric vehicle.
Up to £95,000 total
where eligible accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure are also included.
All funding remains subject to eligibility, the scheme’s terms and conditions and availability of funds.
The fund is aimed specifically at community transport organisations and operators in Scotland.
According to Energy Saving Trust, applicants must meet a number of criteria, including:
Organisations are normally expected to have been operating for at least 12 months, although newer operators may be assessed individually.
Eligibility is ultimately determined by Energy Saving Trust, so organisations should check the official guidance before submitting an application.
This is particularly important.
Once you start the online application, it cannot be saved part-way through, so Energy Saving Trust recommends having the relevant information and documents prepared beforehand.
If you are applying for vehicle funding, you must provide a supplier quotation on headed paper.
The quotation must include a delivery date before 12 March 2027, although Energy Saving Trust confirms that an appropriate lead time can be provided instead of an exact date.
Before starting your application, it therefore makes sense to establish:
This is where speaking to a specialist minibus supplier before starting the application can help.
The funding itself is administered by Energy Saving Trust, and Minibus World cannot approve or guarantee a funding application.
What we can help with is the vehicle side of the process.
Community transport requirements can vary significantly.
A smaller organisation may need a compact electric minibus for local journeys, while another operator may need greater passenger capacity or a flexible wheelchair accessible configuration.
Minibus World can help you explore suitable electric minibus options based on how your organisation intends to use the vehicle.
Our electric minibus range covers different vehicle sizes, battery ranges and manufacturers.
The right minibus starts with understanding who will be travelling.
Our team can discuss:
This helps establish the specification before a formal vehicle quotation is prepared.
Accessibility may be an important part of many community transport applications.
The Plugged-in Communities Fund specifically supports wheelchair accessible electric vehicles, and eligible accessibility adaptations can form part of the funding package.
Depending on the vehicle and required configuration, Minibus World can provide accessible solutions incorporating features such as:
Minibus World’s accessible vehicle range includes configurations ranging from smaller wheelchair accessible minibuses through to larger conversions capable of accommodating multiple wheelchair passengers.
Once your requirements have been established, our team can help prepare the formal vehicle quotation required for the funding application.
This gives your organisation the opportunity to get the vehicle information in place before beginning the online application.
No.
The funding is available for eligible fully electric community transport vehicles more broadly, including minibuses, vans, MPVs and cars.
However, where an organisation does need wheelchair accessibility, the scheme also allows funding towards necessary accessibility adaptations.
The right specification will depend on your passengers, service and operating requirements.
Potentially, yes.
Energy Saving Trust’s current application guidance states that vehicles can be second-hand, provided they are purchased from a reputable supplier. A proper supplier quotation is still required.
This may give some community transport organisations additional flexibility when considering suitable electric vehicle options.
Applicants must demonstrate that suitable charging or powering infrastructure will be available to support the funded vehicle.
Funding can also contribute towards one new charge point per funded vehicle.
Energy Saving Trust states that successful applicants can receive funding towards 100% of eligible charge point costs, although VAT and certain costs such as Distribution Network Operator upgrades are excluded.
Any funded charger must be installed by an approved installer and meet the required scheme criteria.
There is an important distinction between the availability of the fund and the vehicle delivery requirement.
Energy Saving Trust states that funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability.
Funded vehicles must be delivered, and funded charging infrastructure installed and claimed, by:
Because the scheme is subject to funding availability, organisations considering applying may benefit from establishing their vehicle requirements and obtaining the necessary quotation early.
Eligible organisations can receive funding covering 100% of eligible vehicle costs up to £75,000. Accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure can increase the overall maximum grant award to £95,000.
No. The current Energy Saving Trust guidance states that no match funding is required.
Yes. Vehicle funding applications require a supplier quotation on headed paper.
No. Once the online application has been started, Energy Saving Trust states that it cannot be saved before completion. It is therefore important to have your information and documents ready beforehand.
Yes. The latest round specifically includes wheelchair accessible electric vehicles, and eligible accessibility adaptations can also be funded.
Energy Saving Trust states that second-hand vehicles can be considered when purchased from a reputable supplier.
Energy Saving Trust requires one application per vehicle. Applicants can also apply for one charge point and accessibility adaptations for each vehicle.
No. Applications are made through Energy Saving Trust.
Minibus World can help you with vehicle selection, seating and accessibility requirements, specification and the supplier quotation needed for the vehicle element of your application.
If you’re looking at the Plugged-in Communities Fund and need help working out which electric minibus is right for your organisation, speak to Minibus World.
Whether you need a standard passenger minibus or a wheelchair accessible configuration, our team can help you explore suitable options and prepare the vehicle specification and quotation required for your application.
Funding is administered by Energy Saving Trust and is subject to eligibility, availability and the fund’s terms and conditions. Minibus World cannot guarantee funding approval.
Firstly you will be partnering with a family run business that has been going since 2007. We’ve supplied over 5,000 vehicles during this time. We’re FCA authorised and regulated and work with leading finance partners. But don’t just take our word for it, take a look at our👉 Google Reviews.
The team at Minibus World are here to help, so give us a call and let’s have a chat about your next Minibus.
📞 01782 444 289
📩 info@cvmworld.co.uk
🌐 www.minibus-online.co.uk
