At last - First 6 car announced that qualify for the mighty complex EV grant scheme. None get the full £3,750 treatment.
As we mentioned recently the labour Government has announced an EV grant scheme to try and push EV uptake after sales plateau.
In a scheme that could only be devised by a committee of idiots the grants are dependent on unknown variables, that once deciphered could possibly provide a grant of up to £3,750 against the EV sales price. It seems the grants fall into three possible categories: Band 1 £3700: Band 2: £1,500 and Band 3 no grant at all. To make it more exciting the grants are not automatic, and the manufacturers need to apply for their grants. To apply for the grant each manufacturer must supply information about the models and manufactures so-called sustainability, what that is not entirely clear. That means if you were to walk into a dealership today, they could not tell you if the EV you want to buy qualifies for a grant nor could they tell you how make him find out about the process until cars are announced. What a dumb scheme.
The government has revealed the first six electric vehicles eligible for its new Electric Car Grant (ECG). All six are from Citroen’s range, but none qualify for the full £3,750 discount. Instead, each model will receive a £1,500 reduction.
The initial eligible models include:
- Citroen e-C3 supermini
- Citroen e-C3 Aircross SUV
- Citroen e-C4 hatchback
- Citroen e-C4 X
- Citroen e-C5 Aircross SUV
- Citroen e-Berlingo MPV
With the grant applied, the entry-level Citroen e-C3 now starts from £20,595. The Citroen e-C5 Aircross starts from £32,565, and the higher-spec Max version (normally £39,345) also qualifies for the £1,500 grant, as it shares the same battery and motor.
Citroen UK managing director Greg Taylor commented:
“We welcome the support of the Electric Car Grant and are delighted to be the first brand to have our electric range approved. This support helps make our EVs more accessible.”
The ECG discount will be applied automatically at the point of purchase, so buyers don’t need to take any additional steps to receive the saving. Citroen has also confirmed that the grant can be used alongside existing finance offers, such as a 0% interest PCP deal with a 20% deposit over 24 months.
However, the announcement raises questions about how many vehicles will qualify for the full £3,750 discount. It was expected that EVs built in the UK or EU would benefit most, but Citroen’s models – made in low-carbon countries like France and Spain – only receive the lower tier of support.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“With the first models approved today and more to come in the weeks ahead, this summer we’re helping more people across the UK afford and switch to an electric car.”
Compare EV to ICE
Let’s look at the C4 as it is available as a pure EV and a Hybrid. So how much more do Citroen want for the EV version.
The C4 X Plus starts at £25,535 on the road in base form. Claimed MPG of 60.
The EV version is the e-C4 X ia a pure EV with a claimed range of 221 miles.
The e-C4 X Plus starts at £28,715 on the road in base form. We assume that this includes the new £1,500 discount making the electric version £3,200 more than the Hybrid.
That model does not have a heat pump – an essential item to keep the range useful in winter. Add £400 to include.
Let’s call that a 12.5% uplift to go electric.
Is the £3,750 incentive real?
The limited grant raises questions over what criteria determine eligibility for the top-tier £3,750 incentive. One key requirement is that manufacturers hold Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi) accreditation, proving they are on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.
Some brands hold equivalent environmental certifications, but without the specific SBTi recognition, they remain excluded from the higher grant.
