Drivers across the UK can save £1,500 on new electric vehicles, with the first eligible models confirmed, as government makes owning an EV cheaper and easier for thousands of people.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed buyers can enjoy discounts of £1,500 off 4 Citroën models – the Citroën ë-C3, ë–C4, ë-C5 and the ë-Berlingo. The discount will be automatically applied in the purchase of the vehicle and customers do not need to complete any paperwork, News Cover reports, citing UK government.
The 4 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 4 models come as over 17,300 public chargepoints have been added to the UK network since July 2024 – a 27% increase on the year.
With more than 82,000 public chargepoints now available, one chargepoint added every half an hour, and over 100,000 on the way in the coming years, the government is building the infrastructure drivers need to make the switch with confidence, while supporting jobs and saving people money to deliver the Plan for Change.
