The UK’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) just got bigger – and cheaper – for drivers. From today (9 August 2025), thirteen new electric models from Nissan, Renault, and Vauxhall qualify for a £1,500
discount, joining four Citroën models announced earlier this week.
This means 17 models are now eligible under the scheme, part of the government’s £650 million plan to make owning an EV more affordable, while boosting jobs and industry growth.
Key points:
- Drivers can save £1,500 instantly at the point of sale – no paperwork needed.
- Only applies to cars costing £37,000 or less to keep support focused on affordable options.
- More models are expected to join in the coming weeks.
- Backed by the government’s £4.5 billion investment to accelerate EV adoption – the UK was Europe’s largest EV market in 2024.
New eligible models (all £1,500 off):
- Renault: Alpine A290, Megane, Renault 4, Renault 5, Scenic
- Nissan: Micra, Ariya (from 13 Aug 2025)
- Vauxhall: Corsa Electric, Combo Life Electric, Astra Electric, Mokka Electric, Frontera Electric, Grandland Electric
Government view:
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“With discounts on 17 car models announced this week alone, we’re delivering on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for families to go electric.
This is about backing drivers, putting money back into people’s pockets and creating the jobs and growth that will drive Britain forward, delivering on our Plan for Change”.
Industry reaction:
RAC: More choice at better prices will speed up EV adoption.
Carwow: Demand for EVs under £37k jumped 124% after the scheme’s launch.
Nissan: The grant signals a strong commitment to affordable EVs.
Vauxhall: All their EVs, including UK-built models, are now supported.
Renault: This move will accelerate EV adoption and make ownership more accessible.
Charging infrastructure:
The UK now has over 82,000 public chargepoints (one added every 30 minutes) with 100,000+ more planned. A recent £63 million charging package also makes home charging easier and EV running costs as low as 2p per mile.
Bigger picture:
The ECG runs alongside the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which steadily increases the percentage of zero-emission cars manufacturers must sell each year, while trade deals with the US, India, and the EU help secure jobs and supply chains in the UK automotive sector. Photo by Jengtingchen, Wikimedia commons.