First models approved for electric car grant

The first eligible models for the Government’s new electric car grant have been confirmed by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Four Citroen models – the Citroen e-C3, e–C4, e-C5 and the e-Berlingo (M versions only) – qualify for the lower of the two grants available, with customers automatically receiving a £1,500 discount of the recommended retail price (RRP).

Eligibility means that the Citroen e-C3 will now cost £20,595, e-C3 Aircross £21,595, e-C5 Aircross £32,565 and the e-Berlingo £29,740.

The four models are the first to be approved for the discounts under the Government’s new £650 million electric car grant (ECG), which was launched last month (July). 

Greg Taylor, managing director at Citroen UK, welcomed the announcement and said he was “delighted” to be the first to have models approved for the grant.

“At Citroen we want everyone to have the opportunity to make the switch to an electric car and this support will help make our cars more accessible for our customers,” he added.

To qualify for scheme, electric cars must have a recommended retail price (RRP) of £37,000 or less, with two levels of grant available depending on the carmaker’s sustainability standards.

The ‘greenest’ vehicles in band one will receive up to £3,750, with band two vehicles receiving up to £1,500.

The electric car grant (ECG) requires manufacturers to have committed to a verified science-based target (SBT) and have embodied carbon scores below a certain threshold.

Vehicles made by manufacturers who have not set an SBT will not be eligible for the scheme, says the DfT. 

The SMMT expects around one third of electric cars on the market to qualify for the grant based on the criteria set out by Government.

However, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) made in South Korea and China are likely to miss out on the grant based on their environmental standards. 

Several OEMs have subsequently announced their own money-off deals, including Hyundai, MG and Leapmotor, Skywell UK and Volvo, with the Volkswagen Group the latest to announce discounts for certain electric models from its Cupra, Skoda and VW brands.  

The Government says that more models will be approved for its grant in the coming days and weeks.

Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “With the first four models approved today and more to come over the next few weeks, this summer we’re making owning an electric car cheaper, easier and a reality for thousands more people across the UK.”