Drivers can now save £3,750 on Ford’s latest electric cars under the UK grant scheme

Image: Ford Puma Gen-E - Credit: Ford

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Labour was putting money back in people's pockets. Following that message, the Department for Transport announced the first electric car models eligible for the £3,750 purchase grant. Among the options available are the Ford Puma Gen E and the e-Tourneo Courier, both of which can now be purchased with this significant discount.

The maximum grant of £3,750 forms part of the Government’s £650 million electric car support scheme. Not all vehicles qualify for the full amount, however. Out of the 28 models currently included, only two receive the top discount, while the remaining 26 are eligible for grants of just £1,500.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "We're putting money back in people's pockets and making it easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric, by delivering discounts of up to £3,750 on EVs. Our measures are driving competition in the UK EV market, boosting economic growth, and supporting jobs and skills."

According to the DfT, many drivers see the upfront costs as a "key barrier" to buying an EV. The grant aims to reduce prices so they "more closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts". Discounts are automatically applied at the point of sale, and more models are expected to be approved in the coming weeks.

Edmund King, AA president, said: "Drivers frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric. It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable."

Ian Plummer, commercial director at online vehicle marketplace Autotrader, said: "The electric car grant prompted the highest uptick in consumer demand for EVs in three years on Autotrader, and interest in cars priced below £37,000 almost doubled. Half of consumers say price is the biggest barrier to going electric, so it's fantastic to see the first tranche of models qualify for the full £3,750 grant."

Strict sustainability rules determine eligibility. To qualify, vehicles must not exceed a price of £37,000. That requirement brings the Ford Puma Gen E down to a starting price of £24,745, placing it firmly among the most affordable electric crossovers on the market.

The Puma Gen E is equipped with a 43-kilowatt-hour battery and an electric motor that Ford claims can deliver up to 233 miles on a single charge. Alongside the grant, the company is rolling out its Power Promise scheme to help customers make the switch. Private buyers will receive free home charger installation, up to 10,000 miles of complimentary charging, and a battery warranty lasting either eight years or 100,000 miles.

Lisa Brankin, the chair and managing director of Ford UK, said: "We welcome the Government's decision to accelerate the transition to electric mobility and are proud that Ford's commitment to sustainability has been recognised with the full EV grant. With a £3,750 saving available on the Puma Gen-E plus the convenience of the Ford Power Promise, we're helping to make the switch to electric simpler, more affordable and more rewarding."