Please note that this page contains information and links most relevant for people living in Scotland.
Important information
The plugged-in communities grant fund is now open to new applications. See below for eligibility criteria and how to apply.
What is the plugged-in communities grant fund?
Funding covers 100% of costs, up to £75,000, for a new fully electric community transport vehicle for community transport organisations. Funding excludes VAT (unless deemed non-reclaimable), and no match funding is required. Vehicles must be zero-emission and fully electric.
Grants are available to cover the following zero-emission vehicles:
Cars
MPVs
Minibuses
Vans
Funding also covers any necessary accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure up to a total grant award of £95,000.
How do I apply?
Simply click the link below and complete the application form. It is one application per vehicle. You can also apply for one charge point and accessibility adaptations per vehicle.
Please note that once you start the form, it cannot be saved until it has been completed so ensure that all documents and information is ready beforehand.
Funding is first serve basis subject to availability.
Before you submit the form, check our eligibility criteria below.
Application guidance
To request vehicle funding, you must provide:
A quote on headed paper from a supplier. Vehicles can be second hand but must be from a reputable supplier. This cannot be a screenshot or brochure.
A delivery date before 12 March 2027 must be stated on the quote. Please note this does not have to be an exact date –Lead times are acceptable.
To request accessibility adaptation funding, you must provide:
A quote on headed paper from a supplier. This may be part of the vehicle quote.
To request charge point funding you must provide:
A quote on headed paper from an approved installer (the list can be found below).
Proof of ownership/permission for the install site.
Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for funding under the Plugged-in Communities grant fund:
Applicants must be a recognised community transport organisation or operator in Scotland with a UK bank account.
Applicants must be providing community transport services. The Community Transport Association define community transport as “flexible and accessible community-led solutions in response to unmet local transport needs and is often the only means of transport for many vulnerable and isolated people, often older people or people with disabilities”.
Applicants must commit to providing appropriate charging or powering infrastructure to support the running of the fully electric vehicle. This can include public or shared access. Funding is available to each applicant via the Plugged in Communities charge point funding to enable applicants to power their vehicle.
Applicants must have operated for at least 12 months. Any operators running less than 12 months can be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must be committed to providing quarterly monitoring reports to Energy Saving Trust that detail miles driven, number of journeys and customers of the funded electric vehicle.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that receipt of additional funding will not breach Public Subsidy rules. Further details on subsidy rules are included in the application form or on request.
Applicants must ensure that any vehicle ordered is delivered and any charge points installed and claimed by 12 March 2027.
Alongside the fully electric vehicle, successful applicants will be eligible for 100% of the costs towards one new charge point to power it. Funding excludes VAT, unless deemed non-reclaimable, and no match funding is required. The fund does not cover District Network Operator (DNO) costs, such as upgrading the power supply of a charge point.
Energy Saving Trust is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This fund is subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.
Previous rounds of funding supported housing associations, housing cooperatives and community groups, and included the launch of zero-emission car club services for residents and local communities.
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Osprey Housing Association
2
£24,534.00
Grampian Housing Association
2
£20,095.00
Linstone Housing Association
2
£95,067.98
Orkney Housing Association
3
£38,233.20
Glasgow Housing Association
12
£158,602.49
Queens Cross Housing Association
2
£21,024.00
Melville Housing Association
5
£70,838.34
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Blackwood Group
8
£88,800.00
Cube Housing
10
£128,628.00
Grampian Housing
1
£11,559.60
Connect Community Trust
6
£78,946.00
WestWheels Car Club
1
£26,784.36
Huntly & District Development Trust
1
£11,995.20
Osprey Housing Association
1
£12,399.60
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Beannachar Camphill Community
3
£123,338.75
Cowal Elderly Befrienders
1
£80,642.00
Mull and Iona Community Trust
1
£54,764.98
South Ayrshire Community Transport
1
£72,908.00
Tagsa Uibhist
2
£64,790.00
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Annandale Community Transport Services
1
£71,040.00
Buchan Dial a Community Bus
1
£75,125.00
Camphill School Aberdeen
1
£55,834.00
Clan Cancer Support
1
£76,535.00
Coalfield Community Transport SCIO
1
£190,000.00
Connect Assynt Ltd
1
£106,917.00
Forres Osprey Bus SCIO
1
£91,921.00
Galloway Community Transport SCIO
1
£230,000.00
Larkhall and District Volunteer Group
1
£108,467.00
Launder-Aide (Shopper Aide)
1
£87,628.00
Lismore Community Transport
1
£51,661.20
Ross of Mull & Iona Community Transport
1
£66,638.00
Sanday Afternoon Club
1
£65,525.00
The Island of Hoy Development Trust
1
£98,176.00
The Larder West Lothian
1
£41,979.80
Transport for Tongue Ltd
1
£67,820.20
Urram SCIO
1
£49,000.00
Wheels in Nairnshire
1
£83,603.70
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Annandale Community Transport Services
1
£75,000.00
Beannachar Ltd
1
£65,141.00
Caithness Rural Transport
1
£54,142.60
Camphill School Aberdeen
1
£65,141.00
Checkin Works
1
£62,755.40
Coalfield Community Transport
2
£150,000.00
Creich Croick & Kincardine District Day Care Association
1
£44,895.00
Elder Voice
1
£74,135.00
Glasgow Children’s Hospital
1
£49,452.00
Glasgow’s No.1 Baby & Family Support Service
1
£56,305.00
Handicabs (Lothian)
1
£75,000.00
Healthy and Active in East Kilbride
1
£70,202.00
Homeless Project Scotland
1
£62,957.00
Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP)
2
£58,990.00
Lothian Community Transport Services
2
£150,000.00
Moray Carshare
1
£35,296.67
South Ayrshire Community Transport
1
£51,750.00
Southwest Community Transport
2
£150,000.00
St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church
1
£70,444.00
Tagsa Uibhist
1
£53,800.00
The Food Train
2
£69,769.00
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Glenfarg Community Transport Group
1
£75,000.00
Go! Youth Trust
1
£75,000.00
The Dove Centre
1
£75,000.00
Islay Development Initiative
1
£66,350.00
Cosgrove Care
1
£32,995.00
Stronsay Development Trust
1
£45,742.35
Partnerships for Wellbeing
1
£36,995.00
Eat Up
1
£60,629.00
Sanday Development Trust
1
£75,000.00
YMCA Tayside
1
£75,000.00
Borders Wheels
1
£32,288.65
Organisation name
Vehicle number
Value
Glenfarg Community Transport Group
1
£52,987.00
Homeless Project Scotland
3
£172,436.34
Eat Up
2
£136,296.60
Lochaber Action on Disability
1
£35,502.00
St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church
1
£48,455.20
Shopmobility Aberdeen
1
£44,449.00
Elder Voice (Strathmore & The Glens)
2
£144,686.80
Galloway Community Transport
2
£182,331.69
Touch of Love Outreach
1
£56,982.00
CACE (Community Action for Care of the Elderly)
1
£71,050.00
Glenfarg Community Transport Group
1
£52,987.00
Cosgrove Care
2
£88,524.00
Partnerships for Wellbeing Ltd
1
£69,647.00
Getting Better Together Ltd
1
£34,614.74
Wheels In Nairnshire
1
£58,886.80
Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre Development Trust
1
£31,995.00
The Dove centre
1
£72,524.00
South Ayrshire Community Transport
2
£106,357.00
Hoy Youth Hub
2
£129,929.66
Glasgows No.1 Baby and Family Support Service
1
£68,894.80
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity
1
£46,702.60
St. Columba’s Hospice Care
3
£100,390.98
Glasgow The Caring City
1
£70,059.80
Ross of Mull and Iona
1
£54,245.00
Tagsa Uibhist
1
£31,290.00
The Open Door Edinburgh
1
£89,500.00
Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus
2
£141,120.00
Renfrewshire Community Transport
1
£81,552.44
Corner Cupboard
1
£71,847.60
South West Community Transport
1
£70,360.00
FTD Finderne development trust
1
£69,579.00
Beeline Community Transport & Wellbeing Hub
1
£84,059.00
Easthall Residents Association, The Glenburn Centre
2
£137,203.60
Annandale Communitiy Transport Services
1
£66,231.00
Urram
1
£24,090.00
Weekday Wow Factor
1
£91,442.40
John Bellany Day Centre for Older People
1
£84,053.00
Lynton Day Centre
1
£86,874.00
Carrick Community Transport Group
1
£74,193.44
Letham4All
1
£70,550.00
Strathnairn Community Access and Transport Association
Case study
Case study
Case study
