The UK EV grant scheme has officially launched with the first cars confirmed for discounts of up to £3,750. The Department for Transport announced that Ford’s Puma Gen-E and e-Tourneo Courier will receive the maximum reduction. The policy is part of the government’s plan to encourage drivers to switch from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Under the scheme, discounts apply to models priced up to £37,000. The most environmentally friendly cars qualify for the largest reductions. In addition to the Ford models, 26 vehicles are eligible for discounts of £1,500. The grants are automatically applied at the point of sale, with more cars expected to be approved in the coming weeks.
Officials said the initiative is designed to bring EV prices closer to petrol and diesel equivalents. The UK government has pledged to ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. However, many drivers highlight upfront cost as a major barrier to EV adoption. The limited number of charging points is also frequently raised as a concern.
For example, Ford’s Puma Gen-E has a recommended retail price starting at £29,905. The petrol version begins at £26,060. With the £3,750 discount applied, the EV’s effective price falls to around £26,155—making it nearly identical in cost to its petrol counterpart.
The scheme will run for three years and is backed by £650 million in funding. It comes at a time when EVs remain more expensive than petrol cars. According to Autotrader, the average new battery electric vehicle cost £49,790 in June 2025. In comparison, the average petrol car was £34,225.
Currently, there are around 1.3 million electric cars on Britain’s roads. However, the public charging network has only about 82,000 charging points. Many industry experts argue that infrastructure expansion must keep pace with demand for the scheme to succeed.
EVs Eligible for £1,500 Discounts
The following models qualify for the lower discount under the UK EV grant scheme:
- Citroën ë-C3 and ë-C3 Aircross
- Citroën ë-C4 and ë-C4 X
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Citroën ë-Berlingo
- Cupra Born
- DS DS3
- DS N°4
- Nissan Ariya
- Nissan Micra
- Peugeot E-208
- Peugeot E-2008
- Peugeot E-308
- Peugeot E-408
- Peugeot E-Rifter
- Renault 4
- Renault 5
- Renault Alpine A290
- Renault Megane
- Renault Scenic
- Vauxhall Astra Electric
- Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- Vauxhall Grandland Electric
- Vauxhall Mokka Electric
- Volkswagen ID.3
Industry Reaction
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the scheme makes it “easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric.” Edmund King, president of the AA, welcomed the move. He noted that many drivers find upfront costs a stumbling block, but added that the larger discounts “might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable.”
The UK EV grant scheme represents a significant step toward boosting adoption. By narrowing the price gap with petrol vehicles, the government hopes to accelerate the transition to a cleaner transport future.
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