The new Electric Car Grant (ECG) brings discounts of up to £3,750 on zero-emission cars costing up to £37,000.
There’s just one potential issue – we don’t yet know which cars and manufacturers will be eligible for the grant. It seems the government is yet to work that out, so we'll update this page once we know.
At least this gives you time to get your shortlist in order, so we’ve picked 10 of the best EVs for £37,000 or less that could be eligible for the new grant.
But make sure you also look at used electric cars – nearly new EVs can be thousands of pounds cheaper than a brand-new model, even for cars with fewer than 1,000 miles on the clock. You’ll save much more than the £3,750 of the grant by choosing a used EV.
Cars likely to be eligible for the ECG
The government has stated that, to qualify for the ECG, vehicles must be passenger-carrying cars that:
- Produce zero local CO2 emissions
- Have at least 100 miles of range, according to the WLTP test
- Have a battery warranty of at least 8 years/100,000 miles, with a clause for replacement if the battery capacity falls below 70%
- Have a vehicle warranty of at least 3 years/60,000 miles
- Can travel at a speed of at least 60mph
1. Renault Scenic E-Tech
The Renault Scenic is simply fantastic – as a family car, it’s almost unbeatable, regardless of fuel type. Its large battery pack means a range of up to 379 miles, its interior is a captivating mix of sustainable materials and push-the-envelope technology, and there’s a cavernous amount of space for people and luggage. You’ll need to stick with the entry-level Techno trim to stay under £37,000 (Renault’s adjusted the price to £36,995 to make it eligible), but even this trim gets heated seats, a powered bootlid, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry.
Shop used Renault Scenic E-Tech cars or read our Renault Scenic E-Tech review
2. Skoda Elroq
Basically a Skoda Enyaq with a buttock reduction – the new Skoda Elroq has everything great about the Enyaq but at a considerably cheaper price. And that means you don’t need to stick to the cheapest trim level. The well-equipped SE L and Edition trim levels get fancy interior materials and a big touchscreen – the latter adds Travel Assist for some self-driving tech that’ll take the stress out of long drives. Add in a 260-mile range, a big boot and much more legroom than you’d expect, and you can guarantee the Elroq will be very popular.
Read our Skoda Elroq review
3. Kia EV3
Kia’s baby EV is somehow its cheapest and best zero-emission effort. Combine the Air trim with the bigger battery, and you’ll stay under the £37k threshold while getting up to 375 miles to a charge. There’s a real focus on recycled materials in the airy cabin and, since the wheelbase of the EV3 matches the bigger Sportage, there’s a massive amount of legroom.
Read our Kia EV3 review
4. Hyundai Kona EV
The new Kona keeps the visual interest but adds a higher quality interior and much-needed extra space. Inside, there are the must-have big screens but also a whole stack of physical buttons. Remember those? They make everything inside the car easy to operate while you’re driving. The Kona is now a superb all-rounder in the small SUV market, and perhaps the only downside is that a petrol Kona is a lot cheaper than the EV. But with the grant – which should apply to Advance and N Line models – and the potential for cheaper running costs, we’d expect the EV to be cheaper in the long run.
Shop used Hyundai Kona cars or read our Hyundai Kona review
5. Cupra Born
Take a Volkswagen ID.3, add some delightfully sporty looks, and an excellent EV hatchback is… er… Born. The Cupra Born feels a lot sportier to drive than the ID.3, too. Arguably, the most impressive thing about the Born is that it feels posher inside than the VW, with a vast amount of standard equipment and tactile materials. You’ll be looking at the V1 trim with the 59kWh battery – which is good for 264 miles of range – to stay within the threshold for the ECG.
Shop used Cupra Born cars or read our Cupra Born review
6. Renault Megane E-Tech
It’s a rival to the Cupra Born, but the Renault Megane E-Tech is much better value if you don’t mind missing out on the Cupra’s keener driving experience. Impressively, all versions of the Megane now cost under £37,000. Every Megane gets a big screen with Google software baked-in – meaning your maps are always up to date and the charging experience is joined up – and there’s a bigger boot than pretty much all other electric hatchbacks.
Shop used Renault Megane E-Tech cars or read our Renault Megane E-Tech review
7. Vauxhall Grandland
If you need a spacious electric SUV that costs less than £37,000, the new Vauxhall Grandland fits the bill. There’s a luxurious amount of rear-seat space and a big 550-litre boot, which is the same as the petrol version. Plus a whole host of interior storage. A 325-mile range is possible from a full charge of the 73kWh battery, and fast-charging tops it back to 80% in under half an hour. You’ll need to stick with the Design trim, which admittedly isn’t as nice inside as the Renault Scenic’s cheapest trim.
Shop used Vauxhall Grandland cars or read our Vauxhall Grandland review
8. Jeep Avenger
Jeep’s smallest model – so compact it’s not sold in the US – distills the toughness and funky details into an affordable and easy-to-park footprint. Even so, there’s just about room for adults in the back seats and enough room in the boot for a big retail therapy trip. All Avengers fit into the price bracket with plenty of change to spare.
Shop used Jeep Avenger cars or read our Jeep Avenger review
9. Alpine A290
A hot hatch version of the superb Renault 5 E-Tech, the new Alpine A290 certainly ticks a lot of boxes. It’s obviously not one of the most practical cars on this list, but it’s arguably one of the most desirable. Three of the four A290 trim levels cost under £37,000, including the GT Performance model with its beefed up 220hp motor and 6.4-second 0-62mph time.
10. Citroen e-Berlingo
The electric Citroen Berlingo makes this list for its seven seats and vast boot – it is a van, after all. Choose the XL version to get the seven seats, and even with all the options ticked you’ll still be comfortably under the maximum price for the grant. You could also opt for the electric Peugeot Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Life or Toyota Proace City Verso – they’re all the same beneath the badges. All built in Britain, too.
