The government has confirmed another five models eligible for its new Electric Car Grant (ECG), including the Cupra Born – rated by Autocar as one of the most fun to drive EVs currently on sale.
The Born, Peugeot e-208, Peugeot e-2008, Peugeot e-Rifter and Volkswagen ID 3 will now receive a £1500 discount, boosting the list of eligible models to 24.
The ECG is applicable to certain EVs priced at £37,000 or under, depending on the emissions output of the countries where they are built, and amounts to either £1500 or £3750.
This first group of confirmed cars have received the lower amount, but some are among the cheapest EVs on sale already, making a £1500 discount all the more significant.
First 24 ECG cars: what they cost now
Alpine A290: £32,000
Citroën ë-Berlingo: £29,740
Citroën ë-C3: £20,595
Citroën ë-C3 Aircross:£21,595
Citroën ë-C4: £26,150
Citroën ë-C4 X: £27,215
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross: £32,565
Cupra Born: £34,190
Renault 4: £25,495
Renault 5: £21,495
Renault Megane: £30,995
Renault Scenic: £35,495
Nissan Micra: £21,495
Nissan Ariya: £33,500
Peugeot e-208: £28,650
Peugeot e-2008: £33,900
Peugeot e-Rifter: £30,750
Vauxhall Astra Electric: £33,505
Vauxhall Corsa Electric: £26,005
Vauxhall Frontera Electric: £22,495
Vauxhall Grandland Electric: £35,455
Vauxhall Mokka Electric: £31,005
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In no way does this benefit the consumer, as if you could negiotiate a price and say right now we can knock another 2k due to grant.
This is a joke of a scheme and a waste of taxpayers money - and I am speaking as a person who is shortly to order a car that is eligible for the lower band ECG.
With the amount of manufacturer discounting of EVs I am dubious as whether another £1500 handout from the Govt will make much difference. However, if a stimulus is deemed necessary I would have targeted at encouraging the switching of higher emission ICE cars to EVs. Firstly, I would offer it only to private buyers - businesses and corporate owners are already well incentivised, Secondly, I would only offer the ECG to those buying their first car or trading in (or who have sold an older than 3 year old ICE) car within the previous 3 months. Thirdly, I would extend the grant to those buying an up to 3 year old used EV. These conditions would prevent the ECG (or the earlier versions) being given to recipients multiple times and help those on the bottom rungs of the car ownership ladder. It is a gross waste of taxpayer money to give me a payment when I have previously benefited from a completely free home charger including installation costs, a £5000 grant on my first EV and a £4500 grant on my second and the likelihood of another £1500 on my third. In my opinion the Govt attention should be focused on encouraging the scrappage of old and highly polluting vehicles owned by those who cannot afford to buy a new and at £37,000 relatively expensive new EV without some help.
If cars made in France where most of the electricity comes from nuclear are only eligable for £1500, there arent going to be many, if any that get the £3,750 grant. And given all EVs previously got more than £1,500 discount to shift them, wont this just mean the grant goes straight to the manufacturer, who can reduce their discounts now?
Surely the rebate should have gone straight to the public after buying a car so that actual financial cost to the public (the ones this scheme should have been aimed at) went down?
I don't understand why the Renault EVs are not eligible for the full ECG when not only as you say most of France's electricity comes from nuclear generation but their batteries are made in a plant close to the car manufacturing facility. On this basis I would guess that the only EV that will be eligible will be the forthcoming Nissan Leaf being built at Sunderland. As the prices have yet to be announced Nissan can easily take the £2250 difference between the Band 1and Band 2 ECG as extra margin by adding this to the retail price before deducting the full grant.