Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced
The first hybrid electric cars to qualify for the government’s new grant scheme have been announced, with Ford’s Puma Gen-E and e-Tourneo Courier among the models approved. The initiative, funded by a £650 million program, is designed to make electric and hybrid vehicles more affordable and encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel.
The grants apply to eligible EVs costing up to £37,000, with savings of up to £1,500 applied at the point of sale. Another 26 models have already been approved, with more expected in the coming weeks.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said the program aims to reduce prices so EVs “closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts.” From 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK will be banned.
Ford lists the starting price for a new Puma Gen-E at £29,905 compared to £26,060 for a petrol version. With the grant, the EV’s cost falls to about £26,155—just £95 more than the petrol equivalent.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grants will help families make the switch to cleaner cars, while Edmund King, president of the AA, welcomed the move: “Drivers often tell us that the upfront cost of EVs is a stumbling block. More than 3,000 discounts coming online will help close the financial gap and make EVs more affordable.”
Currently, around 1.3 million electric cars are on UK roads, supported by just 82,000 public charging stations. Industry experts warn that while cost remains a barrier, charging infrastructure must also expand to meet demand.
