The UK government declared the Electric Car Grant (ECG) on Tuesday, offering a £1,500 discount on select approved EV models. The initial lineup of eligible vehicles includes four Citroën models: the ë-C3, ë-C4, ë-C5, and ë-Berlingo.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the discount will be automatically applied at the time of purchase, removing the burden of extra paperwork for buyers.
This incentive falls under the government’s £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) program, designed to make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable for consumers.
The launch of the ECG scheme coincides with the ongoing expansion of the UK’s public EV charging network. Since July of last year, over 17,300 public charge points have been added, representing a 27% increase.
Now boasting more than 82,000 public charge points and adding one every 30 minutes, the UK is steadily building the infrastructure needed to facilitate the shift toward electric transportation.
The government’s plan seeks to ease the financial barrier posed by the high initial cost of electric vehicles.
Furthermore, the scheme aims to make electric vehicles a more accessible choice for a range of consumers by narrowing the cost difference between EVs and conventional petrol or diesel cars.
Alongside the Electric Car Grant (ECG), the government has unveiled a £63 million funding package to improve charging infrastructure, with an emphasis on supporting home charging for those without access to driveways. The effort is designed to help drivers take advantage of cheaper home electricity tariffs, thereby reducing the overall cost of running an electric vehicle.
Collaboration with the automotive sector is underway to accelerate the rollout of these discounts. The Department for Transport has also released updated guidelines to simplify the application procedure for vehicle manufacturers.
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