The UK government has taken a major step toward making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable with the launch of its new grant scheme, designed to close the gap between petrol/diesel cars and their electric counterparts.
This week, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the first two vehicles eligible for the maximum £3,750 discount:
- Ford Puma Gen-E
- Ford e-Tourneo Courier
Both models fall within the scheme's price cap of £37,000 and are intended to encourage more drivers to make the switch to cleaner transport.
In addition to the Ford models, the government has approved 26 further EVs for a £1,500 discount at the point of sale.
These include a wide range of cars from well-known manufacturers:
- Citroën ë-C3 and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross
- Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Citroën ë-Berlingo
- Cupra Born
- DS DS3
- DS N°4
- Nissan Ariya
- Nissan Micra
- Peugeot E-208
- Peugeot E-2008
- Peugeot E-308
- Peugeot E-408
- Peugeot E-Rifter
- Renault 4
- Renault 5
- Renault Alpine A290
- Renault Megane
- Renault Scenic
- Vauxhall Astra Electric
- Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- Vauxhall Grandland Electric
- Vauxhall Mokka Electric
- Volkswagen ID.3
With more models expected to be approved in the coming weeks, the government has made clear that the greenest vehicles, produced with the most sustainable methods, will stand the best chance of qualifying for future discounts.
Why This Matters
EV adoption in the UK has been steadily increasing, with over 1.3 million electric cars now on the roads. However, with only around 82,000 public charging points available and the higher upfront cost of EVs compared to petrol/diesel cars, affordability remains a key barrier.
This £650m scheme, which will run for the next three years, is a step towards making EVs a practical choice for more households and businesses. The DfT has also highlighted that these discounts should bring EV prices much closer to their petrol and diesel equivalents.
Helping You Bridge the Gap
We welcome this initiative. For many drivers, these discounts may be enough to tip the balance, and with our tailored finance and leasing solutions, we can make EV ownership even more manageable.
If you're considering making the switch, we'd be happy to help you explore your options and structure a plan that fits your budget.
Together, we're doing more for business
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