If you're after a brand-new electric car, there's a big choice of models that are eligible for the government's £1,500 Electric Car Grant (ECG). And now, a few models hit the top £3,750 grant level, too.
Most cars so far eligible for the grant have fallen into the lesser level. The exact criteria for the grant is murky, and only a handful of cars have succeeded in getting the full £3,750 grant.
The latest cars to qualify for the higher level of the grant are the versions of the Renault 5, Renault 4 and Alpine A290 with the 52kWh battery. Now, this battery is produced in France, which is enough to secure the full grant.
Kia, meanwhile, is the first Korean brand to benefit from the ECG; its new EV4, plus the PV5 people carrier, now get a £1,500 saving.
Remember that these grants apply to brand-new EVs ordered directly from the manufacturer. There aren't any grants for used EVs at the moment, but then many used electric cars offer great savings versus the list price anyway.
Electric cars eligible for a £3,750 grant
- Alpine A290
- Citroen e-C5 Aircross Long Range
- Ford Puma Gen-E
- Ford e-Tourneo Courier
- Nissan Leaf SUV
- Renault 4
- Renault 5 (52kWh battery, '+' trim levels)
Electric cars eligible for a £1,500 grant
- Citroen e-C3
- Citroen e-C3 Aircross
- Citroen e-C4 and e-C4 X
- Citroen e-C5 Aircross Comfort Range
- Citroen e-Berlingo (M versions only, not XL)
- Citroen e-SpaceTourer – You! trim
- Cupra Born – all except VZ trim
- DS No.3 (previously called DS 3)
- DS No.4 (when it goes on sale in October 2025)
- Mini Countryman Electric
- Nissan Micra
- Nissan Ariya
- Kia EV4 – Air trim
- Kia PV5 Passenger – Essential and Plus trims
- Peugeot e-208
- Peugeot e-2008
- Peugeot e-308
- Peugeot e-408
- Peugeot e-Rifter
- Peugeot e-Traveller
- Renault 5 (40kWh battery)
- Renault Megane E-Tech
- Renault Scenic E-Tech
- Skoda Elroq – all except vRS
- Skoda Enyaq – SE L and Edition models with 63kWh battery
- Toyota bZ4X – Pure
- Toyota Proace City Verso
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Vauxhall Mokka Electric
- Vauxhall Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric
- Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- Vauxhall Grandland Electric
- Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
- Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
- Volkswagen ID.3 – all except GTX
- Volkswagen ID.4 – Pure Essential, Pure Match, Pro Essential
- Volkswagen ID.5 – Pure Match, Pro Essential
Nissan expects the new Leaf to hit the top £3,750 grant, although we had thought that many European-built EVs would hit the eco-friendly criteria, too.
In response to the announcement of the grant, many manufacturers – including some from Europe – announced their own savings packages.
- Abarth – £1,500 saving on 500e and 600e
- Alfa Romeo – £1,500 saving on Junior Elettrica range
- Fiat – £1,500 saving on 500e and 600e
- GWM Ora – £3,750 saving on 03
- Hyundai – £1,500 saving on Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9; £3,750 saving on Inster
- Leapmotor – £1,500 saving on T03 and £3,750 saving on C10
- MG – £1,500 saving on MG4 (including XPower) and MGS5
- Smart – £1,500 saving on #1 and #3
- Skywell – £3,750 saving on BE11
- Volvo – £1,500 saving on EX30
However, make sure you look at our used electric cars – all with considerably more savings than the government grant.
We're EV experts – make sure to read our guide to buying an EV and how to charge at home.
