Thinking of making the switch to an electric car? The UK government’s £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) is designed to help you save money on an EV, offering a discount of either £1,500 or £3,750 to accelerate the nation’s transition to battery-electric vehicles.
Since its rollout began in July 2025, the list of eligible models has grown almost weekly, and now include a diverse range of EVs, from superminis to SUVs.
Here, we list every single car that qualifies for the discount, and deliver our definitive verdict on what each car is like.
How the ECG works
The ECG targets the affordable end of the market, capping eligibility at electric cars priced below £37,000 or in some cases £42,000.
To qualify, manufacturers must prove their vehicles meet stringent criteria regarding real-world range, overarching sustainability and long-term warranty cover.
The two-tier system
The grant is split into two distinct structures, with the full £3750 discount being rewarded to only the greenest cars.
Eligibility hinges on the carbon footprint of the car's production, factoring in emissions from battery manufacturing and the assembly line – even the carbon intensity of the electricity grid in the country of origin.
The eligible EV shortlist
Categorised by their grant bands and outlining your potential savings, we've got everything you need to know.
Read on to find out which ones deserve a spot on your driveway...
Band one – £3750 discount
Abarth 500e
Original price: £27,995
Price after grant: £24,245
The Abarth 500e has all the qualities you want from a warmed-up supermini. Nippy, responsive, chuckable, as small EVs go, it is decidedly fun to drive. The ‘fake’ exhaust note is a bit of a gimmick, and we’d have liked a little more playfulness from the chassis. That said, it’s easy to use, efficient and brings as much Italian style as Milan Fashion Week.
Alpine A290
Original price: £33,500
Price after grant: £30,245
With excellent handling, a punchy powertrain and old-school charm, the Renault 5-based Alpine A290 shows that the hot hatchback still has a place in the EV era. The 217bhp enables 0-62mph in 6.4sec - making it by far the fastest car on this list - and it has won plenty of awards already.
BMW iX1
Original price: £37,065
Price after grant: £33,315
The iX1 is a pleasant and refined electric SUV that recently benefited from a small technical overhaul to boost its WLTP range. The iX1 eDrive20 can now travel up to 318 miles on a charge, up from 293 miles. Now that it’s eligible for the Band 1 grant, the iX1 is much cheaper than many of its competitors like the Volvo EX40 and Audi Q4 E-tron.
