Thirteen new electric cars have seen their prices slashed after qualifying for the Government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) – taking the grand total to 17 models eligible for the scheme.
Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall are the latest brands to be given the go ahead for the ‘green’ grant which sees battery models meeting stringent technical and environmentally sustainability criteria receive government subsidies.
The 13 models across the four brands are all eligible for the lower £1,500 grant band. This is applied immediately to On the Road (OTR) prices.
These thirteen models join the four Citroen models announced earlier this week – the firsts to receive the ECG.
The most recent update to the list of eligible EVs comes just over three weeks after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the £650million electric car grant for new EVs priced at or under £37,000.
The grant is tiered so the amount available per vehicle (on or under the £37,000 price cap) depends on the level of emissions associated with the production of the vehicle; the most sustainable get £3,750 while those failing to meet the strict green targets are still rewarded with £1,500 off.
Those failing to meet the minimum environmental criteria receive no subsidy at all.
Another 13 EVs have been awarded the Government’s Electric Car Grant. The models, from Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall, will see prices slashed by £1,500 – this puts them in the lower band 2 of the grant
The new eligible models include five cars from Renault, two from Nissan and six from Vauxhall.
Nissan’s all-electric Micra has been confirmed ahead of the reinvented nameplate officially going on sale on 1 September, so buyers will be able to enjoy the discounted starting price of £21,495, down from £22,995 as soon as it hits the streets.
Nissan has also had its Ariya SUV confirmed for the Band 2 £1,500 discount.
The new Nissan Leaf hasn’t been included in the announcement which suggests it is likely to qualify for the full Band 1, £3,750 ECG – something confirmed by Nissan who say it is ‘anticipated it will get the highest-level grant of £3,750’.
Pricing for this model has yet to be announced.
The Nissan Micra is being built in France, and shares the same platform with the Renault 5, whereas the Leaf is being built at Sunderland – which is currently undergoing a EV36Zero project that will see the home of Nissan in the UK turn into a flagship EV hub, bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.
James Taylor, managing director of Nissan GB, commented: ‘With the grant confirmed today, we are thrilled to see Micra and Ariya becoming even better value for our customers.
‘The Micra will be joined by three new models including the third generation British-built Leaf later this year and the Juke in 2026, also coming from our Sunderland plant.’
The Nissan Leaf has not yet been confirmed for the ECG, unlike the Nissan Micra which will receive £1,500 off. While not confirmed this could be because the Leaf will be built at Sunderland and therefore will be eligible for the higher band £3,750 grant
| Grade | 40kWh | 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Engage | £21,495 | – |
| Advanced | £23,495 | £25,495 |
| Evolve | – | £28,365 |
But, as with the Citroen models already announced, there’s been no detailed explanation from the Department for Transport as to why these models have failed to achieve the higher, £3,750 ECG band, and have only been awarded the £1,500 amount.
The DfT previously told the Daily Mail that it won’t comment on individual manufacturer’s specific applications.
The Government’s is only awarding the grant to the electric car makers that show they put sustainable production first ‘in recognition of the need to address embedded carbon emissions across a vehicle’s lifetime, as well as tailpipe emissions’.
At a minimum, this means the manufacturer must hold a verified Science Based Target, verified by the independent SBT Initiative and in line with the Paris Agreement goals.
Emissions from vehicle production are then assessed against the carbon intensity of electricity grid in the country where vehicle assembly and battery production are located.
The Corsa Electric is one of six Vauxhall models now receiving the £1,500 Electric Car Grant from the Government
Which models will now receive £1,500?
We’ve already mentioned the Nissan Micra and Ariya both receive the £1,500, bringing their starting prices down to £21,495 and £38,165 respectively.
Renault’s Alpine A290, Megane, Scenic, R4 and R5 EVs will all receive the same discount, bringing the R5 down to £21,495 for the entry-level version and £25,495 for the R4 entry-level.
Renault has confirmed that every new EV will start from under £37,000 and that the new ECG will be applied to all orders taken from 16 July, backdating the discount to customers who bought any of the eligible models from that date – a standalone act of generosity so far.
Adam Wood, Managing Director of Renault UK, said: ‘We have been asking Government to match its environmental ambition with action to accelerate demand for electric vehicles, and it has delivered on that with the creation of the Electric Car Grant (ECG).’
Edmund King , AA president, pointed to the Renault models as appealing options, saying: ‘This new round of £1,500 discounts makes some incredibly good cars more affordable.
‘In particular, we can envisage the order books for the Renault 5 and Renault Alpine A290 growing because of this discount.’
| Model | Electric Car Grant | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Renault 5 E-Tech electric | £1,500 | From £21,495 |
| Renault 4 E-Tech electric | £1,500 | From £25,495 |
| Renault Megane E-Tech electric | £1,500 | From £30,995 |
| Renault Scenic E-Tech electric | £1,500 | From £35,495 |
The Renault 4 now has £1,500 off and is one of the French brands recently EV success stories
The new R4 E-Tech is a contemporary reincarnation of the classic practical and economical flat-floored Renault 4, which in 1961 revolutionised the auto market
Vauxhall has had its electric range confirmed for Band 2, which will see the Corsa Electric, Combo Life Electric, Astra Electric, Mokka Electric, Frontera Electric and Grandland Electric all be reduced by £1,500.
Vauxhall already has its own ‘electric car grant‘ out (until 31 August) which sees the same £1,500 offered to customers buying any of its electric EVs. The Stellantis owned brand brought out its privately funded grant – as have many other manufacturers – ‘to make the switch to electric as attainable as possible’.
The Government discounts are automatically applied at the point of sale, leaving customers free from tiresome paperwork.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘With discounts on seventeen car models announced this week alone, we’re delivering on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for families to go electric.’
The Government will announce more ECG model in the coming weeks as they approve applications as fast as manufacturers file them
When will we know which other EVs will get the ECG?
The Government has said that more models are expected to be approved in the coming weeks as manufacturers’ applications are assessed against the scheme’s sustainability standards.
The DfT confirmed to This is Money that applications are being processed as fast as manufacturers can file them.
Car buyers will need to check the Government website every now and then to whether the full list of eligible models has been updated.
Each car maker should flag up any models that have qualified on their own websites too.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams commented: ‘Another wave of cars qualifying for the Government’s revamped Electric Car Grant is yet more welcome news. It’s also very positive to see other manufacturers that don’t meet the grant’s green production targets lowering their prices.’
