A number of vehicles qualify for a discount of £1,500, while others qualify for a bigger saving of up to £3,750 – here are more details
A number of electric car models are eligible for a Government grant(Image: PA)
Drivers could get a sizeable discount from the Government if they choose to buy certain electric cars. Many motorists may not realise that this scheme is providing significant savings.
Launched earlier this year, the Electric Car Grant (ECG) aims to make electric vehicles more accessible, with eligibility covering a range of different models. Currently, the ECG programme functions through two main ‘bands’, with the overwhelming majority of qualifying vehicles situated in Band 2.
Cars including the Cupra Born, Nissan Micra and many others are entitled to a maximum discount of £1,500, which is subtracted at the point of final purchase. A further eight vehicles are categorised under Band 1 within the scheme and qualify for a bigger discount of up to £3,750. This comes as ChronicleLive outlined which drivers could be exempt from a £195 car tax in 2026.
The Band 1 list for discounts includes the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range, the Ford E-Tourneo Courier, and the Ford Puma Gen-E, along with the Nissan LEAF, which was included on the list in November. Starting from £32,249, the Nissan LEAF provides a driving range of up to 386 miles and can charge from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes.
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To be eligible for the grant, vehicles must generally be M1 passenger cars, produce zero exhaust emissions, and offer a minimum battery range of 100 miles (160 km). They must also meet a ‘minimum sustainability criteria’ and various other Government requirements, reports the Express.
Motorists don’t need to submit a separate application for the grant, as the discount will be automatically reflected in the final purchase price. The Nissan LEAF’s inclusion in the ECG scheme follows the success of over 35,000 drivers who have already utilised the grant to switch to electric vehicles since its launch in July. This latest development comes as electric vehicle ownership hits record levels, now accounting for one in four new car sales.
List of vehicles that qualify for the ECG scheme
The ECG scheme covers the following models. Band 1 vehicles are eligible for discounts of up to £3,750, while Band 2 models can get discounts of up to £1,500. The cars eligible for the scheme include:
Band 1 carsCitroën ë-C5 Aircross Long RangeFord E-Tourneo CourierFord Puma Gen-EMINI Countryman ElectricNissan LEAFRenault 4Renault 5 (52 kWh)Renault Alpine A290Band 2 carsCitroën ë-C3, Citroën ë-C3 Aircross and Citroën ë-C3 Urban RangeCitroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 XCitroën ë-C5 AircrossCitroën ë-BerlingoCitroën ë-SpaceTourerCupra BornDS DS3DS N°4Nissan AriyaNissan MicraPeugeot E-208Peugeot E-2008Peugeot E-308Peugeot E-408Peugeot E-RifterPeugeot E-TravellerRenault 5 (40 kWh)Renault MeganeRenault ScenicSkoda ElroqSkoda EnyaqToyota Proace City VersoVauxhall Astra ElectricVauxhall Combo Life ElectricVauxhall Corsa ElectricVauxhall Frontera ElectricVauxhall Grandland ElectricVauxhall Mokka ElectricVauxhall Vivaro Life ElectricVolkswagen ID.3Volkswagen ID.4Volkswagen ID.5
Further information is available at GOV.UK. The website explains what criteria vehicles need to meet to be eligible for a grant.
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