Drivers can now enjoy £3,750 off two new Ford electric cars from today, as the Ford Puma Gen-E and Ford e-Tourneo Courier, as well as four other models, become eligible for the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant.
With the six new eligible models, the total number of vehicles available under the Electric Car Grant (ECG) has reached 28.
The Ford models are the first to offer the maximum savings available, with 28 electric vehicles now eligible for grants of either £3,750 or £1,500.
The latest additions form part of the government’s £650m plan to make it cheaper and easier than ever before to own an EV.
The Electric Car Grant is driving growth in the sector
The Electric Car Grant is set to boost the UK’s automotive industry, a key sector identified in the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, which supports 133,000 jobs in the UK, and a further 320,000 jobs in the wider economy.
It comes as recent Autotrader data shows the ECG is driving growth across the sector, with eligible car models seeing up to an 80% increase in interest.
In total, the government is investing over £4.5bn to turbocharge the switch to EVs for both industry and consumers, securing the UK’s position as a world leader in EV adoption.
Moreover, Britain is set to become Europe’s largest EV market in 2024, and sales are up almost a third so far this year.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented: “Our measures are driving competition in the UK EV market, boosting economic growth and supporting jobs and skills as part of the Plan for Change.”
Which EV models have joined the scheme?
The new models joining the Electric Car Grant are:
- Ford Puma Gen-E – £3,750 discount
- Ford E-Tourneo Courier – £3,750 discount
- PEUGEOT E-308 – £1,500 discount
- PEUGEOT E-408 – £1,500 discount
- DS DS 3 – £1,500 discount
- DS Nº4 – £1,500 discount
More models are expected to be approved in the coming weeks as manufacturers’ applications are assessed against the ECG scheme’s sustainability standards, ensuring only the cleanest cars are eligible.
“We welcome the government’s decision to accelerate the transition to electric mobility and are proud that Ford’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised with the full EV grant,” said Lisa Brankin, Ford UK Chair and Managing Director.
Nicola Dobson, Managing Director at PEUGEOT UK, added: “With six of our all-electric models now confirmed for the Electric Car Grant, PEUGEOT is proud to give customers more opportunities to benefit from lower upfront costs and greater choice.
“From the popular E-208 through to the capacious E-RIFTER, and now E-308 and E-408, we have one of the broadest electric line-ups on the market.”
Targeting barriers to widespread EV adoption
The Electric Car Grant is targeting one of the main barriers to consumers switching to electric vehicles, with people often citing upfront costs as an obstacle.
The discounts are designed to bring prices down, so they more closely match equivalent petrol and diesel vehicles.
The government is also powering up confidence in Britain’s charging network, with more than 83,000 public charging devices currently available, and over 100,000 more to come from the government’s £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund.
In a further bid to reduce costs and encourage people to make the switch, the government announced a £63m charging package in July, which included funding to make charging at home more accessible. This means EV owners without a driveway can charge their EVs for as little as 2p per mile.
Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Autotrader, concluded: “The Electric Car Grant prompted the highest uptick in consumer demand for EVs in three years on Autotrader, and interest in cars priced below £37,000 almost doubled.
“Half of consumers say price is the biggest barrier to going electric, so it’s fantastic to see the first tranche of models qualify for the full £3,750 grant.”
