First electric cars qualify for full EV grant: comment

“The savings available to drivers in making the switch to EVs are already significant, and these grants should make them even higher. In the case of Ford’s Puma Gen-E, as a result of the grant, the annual savings in ownership costs its drivers could enjoy over an equivalent petrol car are now well above the £1000 mark.

“The savings available from EV ownership help explain the sustained growth in EV sales in the UK. Sales in the first half of 2025 are up 35% on the first six months of 2024, [2] helping the UK become the world’s fourth largest EV market. [3] Many manufacturers have seen rapid growth in EV sales, with Ford experiencing the most rapid growth of all having sold 324% more EVs in the first six months of 2025, compared to the first six months of 2024. [4]

“These figures debunk claims that demand for EVs is somehow stalling, or struggling to keep pace with what is needed to meet sales targets. As the car industry has itself acknowledged, it was successful in meeting its targets in their first year (2024). [5] Meanwhile the flexibilities worked into the mandate - lobbied for by the industry to help them comply with the targets - mean industry is again on course to exceed them in 2025. [6]

“With the Government’s grant making EVs even cheaper to own and run, the growth in new EV is likely to continue, and even accelerate. This in turn will accelerate the growth of the second-hand market, where most of us buy our cars. With used EVs now the same price to buy as their petrol equivalents, annual savings of £1600 in running costs are available to drivers the moment they get their hands on the keys.” [7]