The UK government has announced the first electric vehicles (EVs) that qualify for a hefty £3,750 discount as part of its new grant scheme aimed at boosting the shift away from petrol and diesel cars.
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that Ford’s Puma Gen-E and e-Tourneo Courier are among the first models to receive the larger discount. These price cuts apply to new EVs costing up to £37,000, with the most eco-friendly cars getting the biggest savings. In addition, 26 other models will benefit from a smaller but still significant £1,500 discount.
Car manufacturers can apply to have their models approved for the grant, which is automatically deducted at the point of sale. The DfT expects more vehicles to be added to the list in the coming weeks and says the policy will help electric cars price-competitively against petrol and diesel alternatives.
This move aligns with the government’s plan to ban the sale of new petrol or diesel cars starting from 2030. Still, many drivers point to higher upfront costs and the need for more charging stations as major hurdles to switching to electric. Ford highlighted that its Puma Gen-E starts at £26,245 slightly cheaper than the petrol Puma, which is priced at £26,580.
The £3,750 and £1,500 discounts come from a £650 million fund and will remain available for the next three years. Currently, there are about 1.3 million electric vehicles on UK roads, supported by roughly 82,000 public charging points.
Eligible EVs for the £1,500 Discount Include:
- Citroën ë-C3 and ë-C3 Aircross
- Citroën ë-C4 and ë-C4 X
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Citroën ë-Berlingo
- Cupra Born
- DS DS3 and DS N°4
- Nissan Ariya and Micra
- Peugeot E-208, E-2008, E-308, E-408, and E-Rifter
- Renault 4, 5, Alpine A290, Megane, Scenic
- Vauxhall Astra, Combo Life, Corsa, Frontera, Grandland, Mokka (all Electric)
- Volkswagen ID.3
What This Means for Buyers and the Market
- EVs typically have higher upfront costs than petrol cars.
- According to Autotrader, the average price for a new battery electric car was £49,790 in June 2025, compared to £34,225 for a petrol model though this varies widely.
- Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the scheme “makes it easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric.”
- Edmund King, president of the AA, added that “upfront costs remain a key barrier” but welcomed the new substantial £3,750 discounts, saying they could be the financial boost some drivers need to go electric.
With cleaner driving incentives and more affordable models on the horizon, the UK is charging ahead with its plans to green up the roads but the journey to widespread EV adoption still has a few miles to go.
