Drivers can now get £3,750 off two new Ford electric cars as the Ford Puma Gen-E and Ford e-Tourneo Courier, as well as 4 other models, become eligible for the government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme.
The Ford models are the first to offer the maximum savings available, with 28 electric vehicles (EVs) now eligible for grants of either £3,750 or £1,500.
The latest additions, launching today, August 28, form part of the government’s £650 million plan to make it cheaper to own an EV. The plans will also boost the UK’s automotive industry, which supports 133,000 jobs in the UK, and a further 320,000 jobs in the wider economy.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, says: “We’re making it easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric, by delivering discounts of up to £3,750 on EVs.
“Our measures are driving competition in the UK EV market, boosting economic growth and supporting jobs and skills as part of our Plan for Change.”
In total, the government is investing over £4.5 billion to encourage the switch to EVs for both industry and consumers, with Britain Europe’s largest EV market in 2024 and sales up almost a third so far this year.
More models are expected to be approved in the coming weeks as manufacturers’ applications are assessed against the scheme’s sustainability standards, ensuring only the cleanest cars are eligible.
The new models announced today are:
Lisa Brankin, Ford UK chair and managing director, says: “We welcome the government’s decision to accelerate the transition to electric mobility and are proud that Ford’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised with the full EV grant.”
The government announced a £63 million charging package in July, which included funding to make charging at home more accessible, meaning EV owners without a driveway can run their EVs for as little as 2p per mile.
Edmund King, AA President, says: “Drivers frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric. It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers, this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable.
“As more cars qualify for the biggest savings, more drivers will be tempted to go electric.”
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Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Autotrader, adds: “The Electric Car Grant prompted the highest uptick in consumer demand for EVs in 3 years on Autotrader, and interest in cars priced below £37,000 almost doubled.
“Half of consumers say price is the biggest barrier to going electric, so it’s fantastic to see the first tranche of models qualify for the full £3,750 grant.
“With additional money off from both the industry, which has launched additional offers and grants and government, annual running costs savings of up to £1,500 and 9 in 10 EV drivers saying they wouldn’t go back, now’s a great time to consider going electric.”
But, Matas Buzelis, Car expert at vehicle history platform, carVertical, says only time will tell if this translates into wider EV takeup but that electric cars could still be too expensive for many: “Price has always been one of the main barriers to EV adoption and expanding the grant scheme will go some way to addressing this problem. Whether the reported surge in demand for cars qualifying for the grant actually translates into sales, only time will tell.
“Even with the discount, the price of an EV is still out of reach for many. Also, price isn’t the only hurdle: charging is the elephant in the room. Consumers still doubt the network can handle a mass switch to EVs. Buyers want to know they can find a working rapid charger on a long trip, pay a fair and predictable rate if they can’t charge at home, and rely on coverage in rural areas and dense on-street neighbourhoods.
“Until that feels routine, many will hesitate. Grants must go hand in hand with a faster rollout of high-uptime rapid hubs, expanded kerbside and workplace charging, simple, transparent cross-network payment, and quicker grid connections where delays are longest. Deliver that and adoption will really accelerate.”
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