Purchasing a car is undeniably expensive – but motorists may be unaware that a Government initiative could deliver substantial savings. Introduced earlier this year, the Electric Car Grant (ECG) seeks to make electric vehicles more affordable, and as of this week, coverage extends to nearly 40 different models.
Presently, the ECG scheme operates across two primary ‘bands’, with the vast majority of eligible vehicles (35) falling within Band 2. Consequently, models such as the Cupra Born, Nissan Micra and numerous others qualify for a maximum reduction of £1,500, which is deducted at the point of final purchase.
An additional four vehicles are classified under Band 1 within the programme and qualify for an even more generous reduction of up to £3,750. The Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range, the Ford E-Tourneo Courier, and the Ford Puma Gen-E all feature here, alongside the Nissan LEAF, which was added to the list this week.
Priced from £32,249, the Nissan LEAF offers a driving range of up to 386 miles and can recharge from 20% to 80% in merely 30 minutes. Manufacturing is scheduled to commence at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, utilising its 6,000-strong workforce, from December.
Amidst this week’s announcement, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “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 qualify for the grant, vehicles must typically be M1 passenger cars, produce zero exhaust emissions, and offer a minimum battery range of 100 miles (160 km). They must also satisfy a ‘minimum sustainability criteria’ and meet various other Government requirements.
Motorists don’t need to submit a separate application for the grant, as the discount will be automatically reflected in the final purchase price.
The inclusion of the Nissan LEAF in the ECG scheme follows the success of more than 35,000 drivers who have already taken advantage of the grant to transition to electric vehicles since its launch in July. This latest development comes as electric vehicle ownership reaches unprecedented levels, now accounting for one in four new car sales.
In a statement earlier this week, 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.
