London, UK 14 July 2025, embargoed to 22:30
Comment from Stuart Masson, Editorial Director of The Car Expert, on the recently announced Electric Car Grant from the UK Government. It is part of the Plan for Change and comes into effect on 16 July.
“The Government’s new £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG), offering up to £3,750 off new electric cars priced under £37,000, looks good in a headline. But in reality, it feels like another policy designed to help car manufacturers far more than ordinary drivers.
“At a time when an overwhelming majority of households buy used cars rather than new, focusing £650 million entirely on new vehicle sales seems short-sighted. There’s nothing here for used EV buyers – no support for those looking to switch from older, higher-polluting petrol and diesel cars to more affordable second-hand electric vehicles. If cutting emissions is the goal, wouldn’t helping these drivers make the most difference?
“There’s also the question of whether this money will genuinely lower prices. History suggests otherwise. As seen with past EV grants, solar panel incentives and even stamp duty cuts, manufacturers and dealers often adjust prices upwards when grants are available – reducing or even eliminating the benefit for consumers. This, therefore, risks becoming just another subsidy absorbed into the industry’s bottom line.
“Meanwhile, the Government’s approach feels inconsistent. This year alone, taxes on EVs have increased: road tax and Congestion Charge liability are coming for EVs from 2025, and cars priced above £40,000 face the same luxury car tax applied to petrol and diesel models. Now, suddenly, grants are back on the table to drive down EV prices. Such mixed messages undermine public confidence and feed into the myth that EVs are only affordable with government handouts.
“Perhaps most frustrating of all, today’s funding could have tackled the UK’s biggest EV challenge: infrastructure. Poor public charging access remains the single biggest barrier for many would-be EV owners. Investing £650 million into charging stations across the UK would have benefited every EV driver – new and used – and accelerated adoption in every region.
“In short, while this new grant will help some drivers, it’s hard to ignore the sense that industry lobbying has won out over strategic thinking. Supporting electric cars is essential – but this scheme feels more like a quick headline win than a real plan for change.”
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About The Car Expert:
Established in 2011, The Car Expert is the UK’s leading automotive consumer advice platform, reaching over two million readers annually. It offers unbiased and comprehensive guidance on all aspects of purchasing, financing, owning, and selling both new and used cars.
Often referred to as the Rotten Tomatoes of the automotive industry, The Car Expert’s award-winning Expert Rating Index compiles and aggregates tens of millions of key data points on every new car (as well as a growing number of used cars), including almost 16,000 new car reviews from 35 of the UK’s top motoring websites. It also factors in complete safety data from Euro NCAP, reliability data and five-year running cost information.
This Index uses scientific methods and data analysis to calculate a weighted average score, known as the Expert Rating, which allows for comparison across various brands and models.
The Index also adjusts for the age of each review, giving more weight to recent ones, and standardises the diverse scoring systems used across different platforms. With 20+ million data points covering 500+ cars from 50+ manufacturers, the Expert Rating Index has become the trusted benchmark for evaluating and ranking new cars in the UK.
For more information, visit: thecarexpert.co.uk
Media Contact:
Hannah Burgess
hannah@hannahburgesspr.com
+44 (0) 7730 570975
