People can buy one of almost 40 models under the scheme, saving thousands of pounds
Buying a car doesn’t come cheap – but many drivers might not realise a Government scheme could help them save a considerable amount. Launched earlier this year, the Electric Car Grant (ECG) aims to make electric vehicles more accessible, now covering nearly 40 different models.
Right now, the ECG scheme is divided into two main ‘bands’, with the bulk of qualifying vehicles (35) sitting in Band 2. This means cars like the Cupra Born, Nissan Micra and many others are eligible for a discount of up to £1,500, which is taken off at the point of purchase.
A further four vehicles fall under Band 1 in the scheme and benefit from an even bigger saving of up to £3,750. The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range, the Ford E-Tourneo Courier, and the Ford Puma Gen-E all appear in this category, along with the Nissan LEAF, which was added to the roster in November.
Starting at £32,249, the Nissan LEAF boasts a range of up to 386 miles and can charge from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes. Production was scheduled to begin at Nissan’s Sunderland facility, employing its 6,000-strong workforce from December.
Following this announcement, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said last month: “Nissan helped pioneer early EV ownership through the original Leaf, so it is great to see them join our drive to make going electric cheaper and more accessible for families.
“Alongside saving drivers thousands, this news is also a big boost for manufacturing in the North East – supporting thousands of jobs in the region whilst backing the industry to grow and deliver our Plan for Change.”
To be eligible for the grant, vehicles must generally be M1 passenger cars, emit zero exhaust fumes, and provide a minimum battery range of 100 miles (160 km). They must also meet a ‘minimum sustainability criteria’ and satisfy various other Government stipulations. Drivers won’t need to fill out a separate form for the grant, as the reduction will be automatically applied to the final purchase price.
The addition of the Nissan LEAF to the ECG scheme follows more than 35,000 motorists who have already benefited from the grant to switch to electric vehicles since its introduction in July. This latest move arrives as electric vehicle ownership reaches record highs, now accounting for one in four new car sales.
According to the Express, James Taylor, Nissan GB Managing Director, also said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to confirm LEAF’s pricing at £32,249 including the electric car grant, which will deliver an accessible route to EV ownership for our customers.
“This is fantastic news for people looking to switch to fully electric motoring as they now have the reassurance that comes from a car with up to 386 miles of range, all the tech they could want and the real-world benefits that come from Nissan’s 15 years of EV expertise. Best of all, it’s proudly built right here in the UK.”
Which vehicles qualify for the ECG scheme?
A total of 39 vehicles are covered by the ECG scheme – 35 Band 2 models and four Band 1 models. Band 1 vehicles qualify for discounts of up to £3,750, whilst Band 2 models can receive up to £1,500 off.
The cars eligible for the scheme include:
Band 1 cars
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range
- Ford E-Tourneo Courier
- Ford Puma Gen-E
- Nissan LEAF
Band 2 Cars
- Citroën ë-C3, Citroën ë-C3 Aircross and Citroën ë-C3 Urban Range
- Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Citroën ë-Berlingo
- Citroën ë-SpaceTourer
- Cupra Born
- DS DS3
- DS N°4
- MINI Countryman Electric
- Nissan Ariya
- Nissan Micra
- Peugeot E-208
- Peugeot E-2008
- Peugeot E-308
- Peugeot E-408
- Peugeot E-Rifter
- Peugeot E-Traveller
- Renault 4
- Renault 5
- Renault Alpine A290
- Renault Megane
- Renault Scenic
- Skoda Elroq
- Skoda Enyaq
- Toyota Proace City Verso
- Vauxhall Astra Electric
- Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- Vauxhall Grandland Electric
- Vauxhall Mokka Electric
- Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
- Volkswagen ID.3
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Volkswagen ID.5
Further information is available at GOV.UK.
