Government boosts savings on popular EVs
Drivers in the UK can now save £1,500 on thirteen more electric car models from Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall after the government expanded its flagship Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme.
The announcement follows earlier news that four Citroën models have also been approved for the grant this week.
The Electric Car Grant is part of a £650 million programme designed to make owning an electric vehicle (EV) cheaper and easier, supporting the government’s wider £4.5 billion investment in EV adoption, infrastructure and industry growth.
Bigger choice, automatic savings
The new eligible models include the Renault Alpine A290, Renault Megane, Renault 4, Renault 5, Renault Scenic, Nissan Micra, Nissan Ariya (from 13 August), and the full Vauxhall electric line-up including the Corsa Electric, Astra Electric and Mokka Electric.
These join the already-approved Citroën ë-C3, ë-C4, ë-C5 and ë-Berlingo. All discounts are applied automatically at the point of sale, with no extra paperwork for customers. To focus support on affordable EVs, the grant is capped at vehicles costing up to £37,000.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the scheme was about “backing drivers, putting money back into people’s pockets and creating the jobs and growth that will drive Britain forward.”
Driving down EV costs
The government says lowering upfront costs is key to speeding up the transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars. With Britain confirmed as Europe’s largest EV market in 2024 and sales up by nearly a third this year, ministers are aiming to keep momentum strong.
Industry reaction has been positive. RAC head of policy Simon Williams called the expansion “welcome news” that gives buyers a “wider choice of better value vehicles than ever before.”
Carwow CEO John Veichmanis revealed demand for sub-£37,000 EVs on the platform jumped 124% in the week following the grant’s relaunch. He expects the newly added models to draw immediate interest from cost-conscious drivers.
Building the charging network
The Electric Car Grant rollout comes alongside a £63 million charging package to expand home charging options and keep running costs as low as 2p per mile. The UK now has over 82,000 public chargepoints, with one added every 30 minutes and more than 100,000 planned in the coming years.
Manufacturers have also welcomed the move. Nissan, Vauxhall and Renault all praised the scheme’s impact on affordability and its role in boosting UK EV sales. Several models, including the British-built Nissan LEAF, are set for release later this year, supporting domestic automotive jobs.
Part of the UK’s Plan for Change
The Electric Car Grant is a central plank of the government’s Plan for Change, which combines consumer incentives, infrastructure investment and industry support to make the UK a global leader in electric mobility.
Alongside the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires carmakers to sell more zero-emission models each year, the scheme is designed to give both motorists and manufacturers the confidence to commit to an all-electric future.
With more models expected to qualify in the coming weeks, drivers have a growing opportunity to make the switch to electric and take advantage of significant savings.
