Four More EVs Now Qualify for the £3,750 Electric Car Grant as UK Commits £1.5 Billion to Electrification
The UK government has expanded the top band of the Electric Car Grant (ECG), adding four additional electric vehicles eligible for the maximum £3,750 discount. The move follows a major funding boost announced at the Autumn Budget, reinforcing the UK’s long-term commitment to electric mobility.
Which models have just been added to the £3,750 grant tier?
As of 3 December 2025, the government has expanded the highest ECG band to include four additional battery-electric vehicles:
| Manufacturer | Model | Grant eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| MINI | Countryman Electric | £3,750 (Top ECG band) |
| Renault | Renault 4 | £3,750 (Top ECG band) |
| Renault | Renault 5 | £3,750 (Top ECG band) |
| Renault | Alpine A290 | £3,750 (Top ECG band) |
With this update, the number of EVs eligible for the maximum ECG discount has doubled, giving drivers access to £3,750 off eight models across some of the UK’s most recognisable brands.
Why this expansion matters
Upfront cost remains one of the largest barriers to EV adoption. By broadening access to the highest ECG tier, the government is targeting exactly where the market remains most price-sensitive.
- Over 40,000 drivers have already benefited from the ECG since July
- Recent months saw 1 in 4 new cars sold in the UK being electric
- Consumer interest in eligible models has more than doubled in some cases
£1.5 billion Autumn Budget commitment: what’s included
The ECG expansion sits within a broader £1.5 billion package announced at the Autumn Budget to support the shift to electric vehicles:
| Funding area | Allocation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Car Grant | £1.3 billion | Increase funding and extend the grant to 2030 |
| Charging infrastructure | £200 million | Accelerate rollout of public chargepoints nationwide |
This builds on existing investment supporting over 100,000 new public chargers and targeted schemes for drivers without off-street parking.
Charging access: the other half of affordability
Vehicle grants alone are not enough. The government has paired purchase incentives with policies designed to make charging cheaper and easier:
- Expanded funding for public charging outside London
- Support for residents without driveways to access home charging
- Proposals to remove planning permission barriers for cross-pavement charging
- A formal review into the cost of public EV charging
What this means for EV buyers right now
If you are considering switching to electric in 2025 or early 2026, this update materially improves the value proposition:
- More models qualify for the maximum ECG discount
- Grant funding certainty now extends to 2030
- Charging infrastructure investment is scaling alongside vehicle adoption
