The UK Government has announced the first eligible vehicle models for its Electric Car Grant today, enabling drivers to save £1,500 on new EVs.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the Electric Car Grant can be used to enjoy discounts off four Citroën models – the Citroën ë-C3, ë–C4, ë-C5 and the ë-Berlingo from today.
The discount will be automatically applied in the purchase of the vehicle, and customers do not need to complete any paperwork.
The models are the first to be approved for the discounts under the government’s new £650m scheme, which will continue to knock money off the price of new electric cars as more models are approved in the coming days and weeks.
Benefits of the Electric Car Grant for businesses and drivers
The ECG offers carmakers the chance to apply discounts at the point of sale for new eligible EVs, which are measured against the highest manufacturing sustainability standards.
The grant will help carmakers boost their sales, creating jobs and driving investment in the face of global economic headwinds, with £650m of government funding available until the 2028 to 2029 financial year.
With many drivers citing upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV, the discounts will bring down the price of electric cars to more closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts. Drivers can also save up to £1,500 a year in fuel and running costs when switching to an EV.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explained: “With the first four models approved today and more to come over the next few weeks, this summer we’re making owning an electric car cheaper, easier and a reality for thousands more people across the UK.
“Once again, we’re delivering our Plan for Change by standing firmly on the side of motorists and manufacturers, driving down costs for consumers, supporting jobs and putting money back in people’s pockets.”
27% increase in public chargepoints
The approval of the first four models for the Electric Car Grant comes as over 17,300 public chargepoints have been added to the UK network since July 2024 – a 27% increase on the year before.
With more than 82,000 public chargepoints now available, one chargepoint added every half an hour, and over 100,000 on the way in the coming years, the government is building the infrastructure drivers need to make the switch with confidence.
The move follows the department’s £63m package to boost charging infrastructure across the UK, including by making it easier to charge at home for people without a driveway.
This will help drivers charge on their home electricity rates and run their EV for as little as 2p a mile – that’s London to Birmingham for £2.50.
The future is electric
The government is working closely with the industry to make the Electric Car Grant discounts available to drivers quickly, with new guidance published by the Department for Transport to help manufacturers apply as easily as possible.
In total, the government is investing £4.5bn to turbocharge the switch to EVs, securing the UK’s position as a world-leader in electric vehicle adoption – with Britain the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and sales up a fifth on the previous year.
This latest move comes alongside the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles each year.
