Moving drivers into electric cars is seen as an increasingly high priority among lawmakers, and with new hurdles such as London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, which charges drivers of more polluting vehicles to enter the capital, now might be the ideal time to become an EV driver.
The Government offers a grant to encourage motorists into low-emission vehicles. To be eligible, the car must emit no morethan 50g/km CO2, and have the ability to travel at least 112km (70 miles) without producing any emissions at all. The grant covers up to £3,500 of the purchase price of a new electric car.
With more electric options than ever before on our forecourts, we’ve taken the list of eligible cars and narrowed it down to the cream of the crop.
All prices listed below include the Government discount.
Audi E-tron
One of the biggest compliments an electric car can receive is that it feels ‘normal’, and that is certainly the case with the E-tron, which is visually and dynamically very similar to Audi’s ‘Q’ range of SUVs.
With a starting price of £71,520, the £3,500 saving looks slightly paltry, but the E-tron offers a viable alternative to comparable premium SUVs thanks to its look, space and range of up to 241 miles.
Tesla Model S
The Model S has been on the market for some time now, and is arguably one of the more proven entities in the electric car sphere as a result.
In Tesla’s Long Range powertrain spec, it is capable of a claimed 370 miles, though this figure will go down if you opt for the most performance-centric version of this luxury saloon. With the ‘Ludicrous Mode’ performance pack, the car can accelerate from 0-60mph in just 2.4 seconds.
The Tesla Model S is on the expensive side, however, with a starting price of £72,550.
Hyundai Kona Electric
If you are interested in the compact SUV/crossover market, then the all-electric version of Hyundai’s Kona is certainly worth considering.
Priced from £27,250, the Kona is one of the more attainable ways into electric car ownership. It also benefits from Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited mileage warranty scheme, and – if you opt for the 64kWh version – a range of 279 miles.
Nissan Leaf
Perhaps the most popular of the electric cars on the market today, the second-generation Leaf went on sale last year, and marks a notable step-up over its predecessor.
With a range of 168 miles – or 239 in E+ spec – the Leaf is easily usable day to day so long as you don’t have to cover a higher than average number of motorway miles.
Without the grant, the Leaf starts at £31,495, but with the government grant applied, this drops to £27,995.
BMW i3s
The standard i3 is an ideal car for urban commutes and errands, and the i3s builds on that with sporting style and more power.
Delivering the equivalent of 180bhp, and available from £34,170, the i3s is capable of a 160-mile electric range.
Kia e-Niro
After a rather basic first attempt at fully-electric cars with the Soul EV, Kia has shown its true abilities with the e-Niro crossover.
A 282-mile electric range and some impressive practicality help make the e-Niro highly usable, and it also benefits from Kia’s famous seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
With the government grant applied, the e-Niro is available from £32,995.
Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar’s first all-electric SUV has been well received, winning the 2019 World Car of the Year award and being regarded as one of the better electric cars on the market today. It’s capable of some impressive performance too, with a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds.
With an electric range of up to 292 miles, it should be more than capable of completing all but the longest of journeys.
Starting at £64,495, it also seems like good value compared with its key rival, the Tesla Model X.
Tesla Model X
Tesla’s first SUV, the Model X, is available from £75,700 and is capable of 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, and will go on to a top speed of 155mph.
With an estimated 230-mile range, the Model X is slightly down on its rival from Jaguar, while also being more expensive. However, many buyers of Tesla products are invested in the brand’s image, and will likely not be concerned with this detail.
Renault Zoe
The Renault Zoe is one of the cheapest entry points into EV ownership, with a starting price of just £17,720 with the government grant applied.
The Zoe’s performance is by no means staggering, but it does more than enough to satisfy the needs of your average town or city driver.
With a driving range of 186 miles and the ability to re-charge the battery in one hour and 40 minutes using a fast charger, the Zoe is certainly able enough for short-distance commuters.
Smart EQ ForTwo
The diminutive Smart is one of the more compact cars on the market, and will rarely leave the city or town it calls home, so producing an electric version makes perfect sense.
It is only capable of a 70-mile range, but the ForTwo is not a car for long journeys anyway, so if you’re in the market for the petrol version, the EQ may also suit your needs.
The EQ is available from £17,695 as a coupe, while the cabriolet version starts at £19,835.