The first four models approved for a £1,500 discount from the Department for Transport (DfT)’s Electric Car Grant have been announced.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has announced today that four models from French car manufacturer Citroën – the ë-C3, ë–C4, ë-C5 and the ë-Berlingo – are now eligible for the band 2 discount of £1,500 knocked off their price tag.
According to the DfT, for a car to be deemed eligible for the scheme, it must first meet ‘the highest manufacturing sustainability standards’. This includes being an M1 passenger vehicle, producing 0gCO2/km at the tailpipe, having a minimum battery range of 100 miles (160km), an 8-year warranty and meeting minimum sustainability criteria.
As it stands, no car models have been deemed eligible for the band 1 discount, which will see £3,750 removed from the total cost of the vehicle.
Ms 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.’
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘It’s great to see the first qualifying models announced for the Government’s new Electric Car Grant.
'Not only does this mean more drivers will benefit from the lower cost of running an electric vehicle, but it’s hopefully the sign of more to come from other manufacturers in the weeks ahead. With nearly 1.6 million battery electric vehicles on the road already, it’s a real boost for the switch to electric.’
The ECG is funded by £650m from the Department for Transport (DfT) and accessed by manufacturers for EVs priced at or under £37,000.
When asked by Highways how the Government intended to ensure that customers benefited from the discount, the DfT stated that the dealer will be required to put the full amount of the grant on the invoice so that the customer can clearly see that the discount has been applied.
Image credit: ZayacSK / Shutterstock.com
