From November 2021 fleets in Greater Manchester can apply for funding to buy low-emission vehicles ahead of the introduction of the Greater Manchester clean air zone in May 2022.
The region has secured £120 million in Government funding to help fleets upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles.
The new Financial Support Scheme service will allow companies to check their eligibility for, and access to, Government grants and subsidised finance to upgrade their vehicle or fleet to avoid paying charges.
The new system is built on software as a service (SaaS) provider QV Systems’ Accelerate platform and, to make the process as smooth as possible, is fully automated. Businesses enter their details to check their eligibility, before being presented with a range of funding options from approved lenders and brokers.
Councillor Andrew Western, Greater Manchester lead for Clean Air, said:
“As a city region, we are committed to tackling air pollution, which is the biggest environmental public health issue facing the city-region and contributes to around 1,200 deaths in Greater Manchester alone each year.
“That’s why we have developed a Clean Air Plan that not only helps us meet Government requirements on nitrogen dioxide air pollution, but also delivers the funding support for those businesses, individuals and organisations who need to upgrade their vehicle to become compliant.”
QV Systems’ CEO Daniel Layne commented: “This decade will see one of the biggest transformations in the history of personal transportation, with the phasing out of new petrol and diesel in favour of more environmentally friendly vehicles. The UK’s targets for clean air and the transition to greener fleets are among the most ambitious in the world.”
