Millions of British drivers set for electric car switch thanks to Labour's £3,750 EV discount

The ECG enables drivers to save either £1,500 or £3,750 on a list of more than 30 popular electric cars if they cost less than £37,000.

The launch of the £650million Electric Car Grant has been backed by Labour, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explaining that it will help thousands of drivers get behind the wheel of a new EV.

Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing motoring@gbnews.uk

In addition to the motorists interested in the ECG, 55 per cent of drivers said they expected to buy an electric car within the next two years.

Younger adults between the ages of 17 and 34 were the demographic that was most interested in buying an EV with the Electric Car Grant savings.

French brand Renault, which conducted the survey, is one of the manufacturers which has been given the green light by the Government to be included in the grant scheme at the £1,500 tier.

Four of its most popular models are included in the grant scheme, including the Renault 4, Renault 5, Renault Megane and the Renault Scenic.

The Renault 4 starts from a price point of £25,495 and comes equipped with up to 247 miles of driving range and fast-charging capabilities.

Renault's cheapest model, once the Electric Car Grant has been applied, is the Renault 5, with a price point of just £21,495, making it one of the most affordable EVs on the market.

The 5 is manufactured in Renault's Ampere Douai plant in northern France and is a modern, reimagined look of the iconic city car, with an impressive 250-mile range for such a low price.

The Megane and Scenic are the electrified versions of popular models that have been seen on UK roads for years, with a price point starting from £30,995 and £35,495, respectively.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Drivers fork out £16.5m in debt for evading Ulez fines as TfL issues warning - 'Your vehicle will be removed'
• More than 270,000 drivers to receive £200million in car insurance compensation - Could you benefit?
• Pay-per-mile car taxes would bring 'many benefits' with Rachel Reeves under pressure to launch new rules

Championship-winning racing driver Jason Plato said an increasing number of drivers were discovering the benefits of switching to an electric car.

He added: "These results highlight how, when great savings are available on great cars, the grant is working to persuade buyers to move to electric."

The motoring expert said more needed to be done to educate motorists on the positives of electric cars to accelerate the uptake of clean vehicles.

Plato concluded, saying: "While we have to respect people's concerns, many of them are looking outdated as some of the latest cars to be launched offer incredible technology at great value, including long battery range and running costs that mean they can be much cheaper to own over their lifetime than a car with an engine."

Eligible EVs for the £3,750 Electric Car Grant

• Ford Puma Gen-E
• Ford e-Tourneo Courier

Eligible EVs for the £1,500 Electric Car Grant

• Citroen e-Berlingo
• Citroen e-C3 and e-C3 Aircross
• Citroen e-C4 and e-C4 X
• Citroen e-C5 Aircross
• Citroen e-SpaceTourer
• Cupra Born
• DS DS3
• DS Nº4
• Nissan Ariya
• Nissan Micra
• Peugeot e-208
• Peugeot e-308
• Peugeot e-408
• Peugeot e-2008
• Peugeot e-Rifter
• Peugeot e-Traveller
• Renault Alpine A290
• Renault Megane
• Renault Scenic
• Renault 4
• Renault 5
• Skoda Elroq
• Skoda Enyaq
• Toyota bZ4X
• Toyota Proace City Verso
• Vauxhall Astra Electric
• Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
• Vauxhall Corsa Electric
• Vauxhall Frontera Electric
• Vauxhall Grandland Electric
• Vauxhall Mokka Electric
• Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
• Volkswagen ID.3