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| Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced | Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first electric vehicles (EV) eligible for the £3,750 discount under the government's grant scheme have been announced. | The first electric vehicles (EV) eligible for the £3,750 discount under the government's grant scheme have been announced. |
| The Department for Transport confirmed Ford's Puma Gen-E or e-Tourneo Courier would be discounted as part of plans to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles. | The Department for Transport confirmed Ford's Puma Gen-E or e-Tourneo Courier would be discounted as part of plans to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles. |
| Under the grant scheme, the discount applies to new eligible car models costing up to £37,000, with the most environmentally friendly ones seeing the biggest reductions. Another 26 models have been cleared for discounts of £1,500. | Under the grant scheme, the discount applies to new eligible car models costing up to £37,000, with the most environmentally friendly ones seeing the biggest reductions. Another 26 models have been cleared for discounts of £1,500. |
| Carmakers can apply for models to be eligible for grants, which are then automatically applied at the point of sale. | Carmakers can apply for models to be eligible for grants, which are then automatically applied at the point of sale. |
| More vehicles are expected to be approved in the coming weeks and the DfT said the policy would bring down prices to "closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts". | More vehicles are expected to be approved in the coming weeks and the DfT said the policy would bring down prices to "closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts". |
| The government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars from 2030. | The government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars from 2030. |
| But many drivers cite upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV and some have told the BBC that the UK needs more charging points. As a result EVs "don't cut the mustard", said Hugh Bladon, founding member of the Alliance of British Drivers. | But many drivers cite upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV and some have told the BBC that the UK needs more charging points. As a result EVs "don't cut the mustard", said Hugh Bladon, founding member of the Alliance of British Drivers. |
| He said hybrid cars were "the way forward" as they were more cost-effective than EVs and called for similar incentives for such vehicles. | He said hybrid cars were "the way forward" as they were more cost-effective than EVs and called for similar incentives for such vehicles. |
| According to Ford, the retail price for a new Puma Gen-E costs £26,245, while a petrol version is £26,580. | According to Ford, the retail price for a new Puma Gen-E costs £26,245, while a petrol version is £26,580. |
| The grants to lower the cost of EVs will be funded through the £650m scheme, and will be available for three years. | The grants to lower the cost of EVs will be funded through the £650m scheme, and will be available for three years. |
| There are around 1.3 million electric cars on Britain's roads but currently only around 82,000 public charging points. | There are around 1.3 million electric cars on Britain's roads but currently only around 82,000 public charging points. |
| As well as how environmentally friendly the cars perform, manufacturers adopting the most sustainable and "greenest" methods during the production process, such as using 100% renewable electricity, stand a better chance of achieving eligibility for the maximum discount, the government said. | As well as how environmentally friendly the cars perform, manufacturers adopting the most sustainable and "greenest" methods during the production process, such as using 100% renewable electricity, stand a better chance of achieving eligibility for the maximum discount, the government said. |
| Full list of EVs eligible for the £1,500 discount | Full list of EVs eligible for the £1,500 discount |
| Citroën ë-C3 and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross | Citroën ë-C3 and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross |
| Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X | Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X |
| Citroën ë-C5 Aircross | Citroën ë-C5 Aircross |
| Citroën ë-Berlingo | Citroën ë-Berlingo |
| Cupra Born | Cupra Born |
| DS DS3 | DS DS3 |
| DS N°4 | DS N°4 |
| Nissan Ariya | Nissan Ariya |
| Nissan Micra | Nissan Micra |
| Peugeot E-208 | Peugeot E-208 |
| Peugeot E-2008 | Peugeot E-2008 |
| Peugeot E-308 | Peugeot E-308 |
| Peugeot E-408 | Peugeot E-408 |
| Peugeot E-Rifter | Peugeot E-Rifter |
| Renault 4 | Renault 4 |
| Renault 5 | Renault 5 |
| Renault Alpine A290 | Renault Alpine A290 |
| Renault Megane | Renault Megane |
| Renault Scenic | Renault Scenic |
| Vauxhall Astra Electric | Vauxhall Astra Electric |
| Vauxhall Combo Life Electric | Vauxhall Combo Life Electric |
| Vauxhall Corsa Electric | Vauxhall Corsa Electric |
| Vauxhall Frontera Electric | Vauxhall Frontera Electric |
| Vauxhall Grandland Electric | Vauxhall Grandland Electric |
| Vauxhall Mokka Electric | Vauxhall Mokka Electric |
| Volkswagen ID.3 | Volkswagen ID.3 |
| The up-front cost of EVs is higher on average than for petrol cars. | The up-front cost of EVs is higher on average than for petrol cars. |
| According to Autotrader, the average price of a new battery electric car was £49,790 in June 2025, based on manufacturers' recommended prices for 148 models. | According to Autotrader, the average price of a new battery electric car was £49,790 in June 2025, based on manufacturers' recommended prices for 148 models. |
| The equivalent for a petrol car was £34,225, but the average covers a broad range of prices. | The equivalent for a petrol car was £34,225, but the average covers a broad range of prices. |
| Across all types of engines, sales of used cars outweigh those of brand new vehicles. | Across all types of engines, sales of used cars outweigh those of brand new vehicles. |
| Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show up to 7.6 million second-hand cars were purchased last year, compared to nearly two million brand new vehicles across all fuel types. | Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show up to 7.6 million second-hand cars were purchased last year, compared to nearly two million brand new vehicles across all fuel types. |
| Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grant scheme was making it "easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric". | Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grant scheme was making it "easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric". |
| Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers "frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric". | Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers "frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric". |
| "It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable." | "It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable." |
| Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said the grant "comes on top of the substantive subsidies already provided by manufacturers". | |
| He called on the government to process applications rapidly as car sales pick up in September as number-plates change. |