Every Car That Qualifies For The UK EV Grant

Wondering what cars are eligible for discounts under the UK government’s new grant for EVs? Wonder no more, as the initial batch of cars to get price drops as part of the scheme has been announced, and is slowly but steadily growing. 

Most recently, the electric version of the Mini Countryman has been confirmed as eligible for the lower £1500 Band 2 grant. Exact details haven't been divulged, but with both the single-motor Countryman E and dual-motor Countryman SE falling under the £37,000 threshold, it's likely that both qualify. It's likely the only Mini that'll qualify, as the brand's other electric models, the Cooper Electric and Aceman, are both built in China – it's thought that this effectively rules them out of the grant due to the country's higher-carbon power grid.

It joins a growing list of Band 2 cars, while it remains a solitary duo of Fords, the Puma Gen-E and e-Tourneo Courier, that get the full £3750 Band 1 discount.

What does a car have to do to qualify for the grant?

Firstly, it has to be electric. Obviously. It has to have a range of at least 100 miles too, although that’s basically every EV these days. Secondly, the list price has to be under £37,000, although this applies to the entry point for powertrains rather than specific models. This is why a couple of versions of the Skoda Enyaq qualify, despite them starting at over £37k – because they share the same powertrain as the smaller, cheaper Elroq.

However, the government has just narrowed this loophole somewhat by introducing a price cap of £42,000 for models sharing powertrains with sub-£37,000 cars. So, providing a qualifying car starts at under £37,000, any other qualifying cars with the same powertrain costing up to £42,000 can get the grant. Still following?

Thirdly – and this is the kicker – it has to meet sustainability criteria relating to its manufacturing. Its manufacturer must be part of the Science Based Targets Initiative, a programme that companies can sign up to help reduce their CO2 emissions. This presently rules out cars from major EV manufacturers including Fiat, Kia, Hyundai and BYD. A number of these companies have introduced their own offers in response.

Also factored in are the countries where both the batteries are manufactured and the car is assembled. If these happen in countries with lower-carbon energy grids according to the International Energy Agency, a car's more likely to be eligible. It's thought that this rules out pretty much any Chinese-built car.

Based on these criteria, cars are sorted into two bands that determine how big of a discount they get. Band 2 cars can get up to £1500 knocked off their price, while more sustainably-manufactured Band 1 cars can receive a full £3750 off. It seems being eligible for Band 1 is no small feat, as only two of the cars included in the scheme so far qualify for it.

Which cars qualify?

Band 1

So far, only two cars qualify for Band 1 and get the full £3750 discount, both from Ford. Nissan, though, reckons its new UK-built Leaf will also get the full amount when it goes on sale later this year.

• Ford E-Tourneo Courier
• Ford Puma Gen-E

Band 2

A growing list of cars is eligible for a £1500 discount by meeting Band 2 criteria.

• Alpine A290
• Citroen e-Berlingo (excluding XL version)
• Citroen e-C3 and e-C3 Aircross
• Citroen e-C4 and e-C4 X
• Citroen e-C5 Aircross
• Citroen e-Spacetourer
• Cupra Born (excluding VZ)
• DS 3 E-Tense
• DS No4 E-Tense
• Mini Countryman Electric
• Nissan Ariya (excluding all-wheel drive versions)
• Nissan Micra
• Peugeot e-208
• Peugeot e-2008
• Peugeot e-308 and e-308 SW
• Peugeot e-408
• Peugeot e-Rifter
• Peugeot e-Traveller
• Renault 4
• Renault 5
• Renault Megane
• Renault Scenic
• Skoda Elroq (excluding vRS)
• Skoda Enyaq (59kWh versions only)
• Toyota bZ4X
• Toyota Proace City Verso
• Vauxhall Astra Electric and Astra Electric Sports Tourer
• Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
• Vauxhall Corsa Electric
• Vauxhall Frontera Electric
• Vauxhall Grandland Electric
• Vauxhall Mokka Electric
• Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
• Volkswagen ID3 (excluding GTX)

What if I want an EV that doesn’t qualify?

Well, depending on what you’re after, you might be in luck. Following the announcement of the scheme, various car manufacturers have introduced ‘grants’ of their own, either to spur on demand while they wait to find out if their cars are eligible, or because they know they likely won't be.

Because these 'grants' are totally at the discretion of the manufacturers, we’ve seen discounts applied to cars that otherwise likely wouldn’t be eligible, including some well above the £37,000 threshold.

That sees some of our favourite EVs get cheaper. Both equally excellent ends of Hyundai’s EV spectrum, for instance – the cutesy Inster and phenomenal Ioniq 5 N – get discounts, as do two very fun Stellantis twins, the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e. While it’s not necessarily a car we’d recommend, the brutally quick MG4 XPower also sees its price cut. We’ve put together details of some of the manufacturers introducing grants of their own here.