Drivers across the UK can save £1,500 on new electric vehicles, with the first eligible models confirmed on Tuesday (5 August).
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed buyers can enjoy discounts of £1,500 off four Citroën models:
- Citroën ë-C3;
- Citroën ë–C4;
- Citroën ë-C5;
- Citroën ë-Berlingo.
The discount will be automatically applied to the purchase of the vehicle, and customers do not need to complete any paperwork.
The four models are the first to be approved for the discounts under the government’s new £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme, which will continue to knock money off the price of new electric cars as more models are approved in the coming days and weeks.
The ECG offers carmakers the chance to apply discounts at the point of sale for new eligible EVs, which are measured against the highest manufacturing sustainability standards.
The grant will help carmakers boost their sales, creating jobs and driving investment in the face of global economic headwinds, with £650 million of government funding available until the 2028 to 2029 financial year.
The approval of the first four models comes as over 17,300 public chargepoints have been added to the UK network since July 2024 – a 27% increase on the year.
“With the first four models approved today and more to come over the next few weeks, this summer we’re making owning an electric car cheaper, easier and a reality for thousands more people across the UK,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
“Once again, we’re delivering our Plan for Change by standing firmly on the side of motorists and manufacturers, driving down costs for consumers, supporting jobs and putting money back in people’s pockets.”
The new Electric Car Grant, which opened to applications from manufacturers last month with discounts of up to £3,750 available, is the latest in a series of moves showing the government is on the side of British drivers.
The government is working closely with the industry to make the discounts available to drivers quickly, with new guidance published by the Department for Transport to help manufacturers apply as easily as possible.
In total, the government said it will invest £4.5 billion to turbocharge the switch to EVs, securing the UK’s position as a world-leader in electric vehicle adoption – with Britain the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and sales up a fifth on the previous year – while helping put more money in people’s pockets.
Leave a Reply