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 car to qualify for the higher level of the grant is the Renault Scenic E-Tech – the third Renault model to be eligible, after the 4 and big-battery versions of the 5. Prices for the Scenic now start from £33,245, only around £2,000 more than the smaller Megane E-Tech. The Scenic qualifies for the higher level because Renault's Polish plant runs on 100% sustainable electricity and the car is built in France.
Kia, meanwhile, now offers four different models with the £1,500 saving – the compact EV2, the EV3 small SUV, the EV4 family hatchback, and the PV5 people-carrier. The £1,500 saving on the EV2 refers to the small-battery First Edition model, while Kia hopes that the big-battery models will qualify for the top whack.
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
- Mini Countryman
- Nissan Leaf SUV
- Nissan Micra (52kWh battery)
- Renault 4
- Renault 5 (52kWh battery, '+' trim levels)
- Renault Scenic E-Tech
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 (previously called DS 4)
- Mini Countryman Electric
- Nissan Ariya
- Hyundai Kona Electric
- Kia EV2 – First Edition
- Kia EV3 – Air and GT-Line trims
- Kia EV4 – Air and Motion trims
- 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
- Skoda Elroq – all except vRS
- Skoda Enyaq – SE L and Edition models with 63kWh battery
- Toyota C-HR+
- 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
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.
