To be eligible for the ECG cars must:
1. Be an M1-class passenger vehicle (carry fewer than eight passengers)
2. Produce zero tailpipe emissions
3. Have a minimum electric range of 100 miles
4. Come with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty
5. Have a battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles
6. Meet minimum sustainability criteria
When choosing cars that meet the criteria, you should consider:
List price
The cars on this list are all affected by the ECG, which reduces their list price by £1500. That could be the difference between affording a model on this list or having to walk away from the dealership empty-handed.
Size
Why it matters: Too small and you won’t have enough space; too big and you’re paying for unnecessary metal.
As the grant doesn’t apply specifically to vehicles of a certain size, there’s a lot of flexibility for buyers.
What size suits your day-to-day life? If you want more space, an SUV like the Vauxhall Grandland Electric or the Renault Scenic would be the best choice until further cars are revealed. For smaller options, consider the Renault 5 or Citroën ë-C3.
Performance
Why it matters: Performance varies greatly between cars.
Everyday driving: You might want to prioritise comfort and smoothness over speed and agility.
Sport models: There are cars on this list aimed at the keen driver too. This includes the Autocar Award-winning Alpine A290, which is the pick of the lot for driver engagement.
Regenerative braking: Adjustable regen settings in electric cars can let you drive using only one pedal and improve efficiency.
Range
Why is matters: determines how far you can travel
Estimate how many miles you cover both daily and weekly to help you determine which electric car will best suit your needs.
Pleasingly, most of the cars that are eligible for the grant offer a range of more than 200 miles, some of them more than 250 miles.
You might be saving money buy purchasing an EV that qualifies for the discount, but it needs to be a conveinent and offer enough mileage for your lifestyle.