Subscribe to our newsletter
Receive the latest updates on sustainability and net zero, plus technical insights and smart product innovation
Subscribe to our newsletter
Receive the latest updates on sustainability and net zero, plus technical insights and smart product innovation
Drivers can save £3,750 off four more electric vehicles (EVs) as the top band of the Electric Car Grant (ECG) expands again to include the:
The expansion doubles the number of EVs eligible for the maximum reduction under the grant, meaning drivers can now get £3,750 off eight models across some of the most popular brands.
The Government has also gone further to make it cheaper and easier to choose electric with an extra £1.5 billion at the Autumn Budget, including £1.3 billion to increase available funding and extend the ECG for a further year, meaning more drivers will be able to save thousands when making the switch, alongside £200 million to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints across the country.
The grant is helping to tackle upfront costs – traditionally one of the biggest barriers to EV uptake – and has already helped over 40,000 drivers choose electric since its launch in July.
September and October saw record EV sales with one in four new cars sold in the UK now being electric, whilst interest in some eligible vehicles doubled.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“Our Electric Car Grant has already supported over 40,000 drivers to choose electric, and this latest expansion doubles the number of models available for the top discount – putting thousands of pounds back in more families’ pockets.
“We’re doubling down on our drive to help people buy EVs, extending the grant to push down costs and boosting charging access with a further £200 million to expand the charging network across the UK.”
The additional £200 million to support the rollout of more chargepoints across the country will build on the £381 million to help councils deliver over 100,000 new public chargers.
This is on top of a £25 million scheme to make it easier for residents without driveways to install home chargers, enabling them to access cheaper electricity rates and charge up for as little as 2p per mile.
The Government is also making it easier for people to install home charging solutions such as cross pavement charging with proposals to cut red tape and removing planning permission requirements. This could speed up residents’ applications and save drivers up to £250 in application fees.
The Government has also launched a review into the cost of public EV charging, looking at the impact of energy prices, wider cost contributors, and options for lowering these costs for consumers.
Overall, the Government is investing £7.5 billion to accelerate the transition to electric and to maintain the UK’s leading position as having the largest EV share of any major European market from January to October this year.
BEAMA CEO, Yselkla Farmer, said:
“BEAMA’s latest market pulse shows that the Electric Car Grant is leading to positive trends in new EV inquiries to date and its continued support by this Government is a welcome measure, providing certainty and improving confidence for UK EV chargepoint manufacturers in the UK as the place to invest.
“With more cars becoming eligible for the top level of the grant, the Government’s ambitious ZEV mandate is becoming increasingly achievable.”
Subscribe to our newsletter
Receive the latest updates on sustainability and net zero, plus technical insights and smart product innovation