Electric car sales boomed last year as prices dropped and more choice became available – as highlighted by the Independent EV Price Index.
The government’s Electric Car Grant was launched in the summer, offering discounts of either £1,500 or £3,750 on eligible models and bringing prices down even further, while car makers without eligible models have introduced their own discount schemes. On top of that, a host of new, more affordable models have also been launched.
So, whether you want a small, city runabout, a family-friendly SUV or a sports car, there’s an EV for you – and while prices have dropped and choice increased, improvements in battery and motor technology mean EVs can drive further – and charge faster – than ever before.
Some of today’s EVs have official driving ranges of up to 500 miles, while others can fill their battery to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes. Gone are the days of plugging in for an hour or more every 100 miles. As we head through 2026 and beyond, all of these attributes will only improve; EVs will go further, charge quicker and cost less.
Prices for new EVs currently start at just £12,240 for a Dacia Spring once the brand’s own EV discount of £3,750 is taken into account. Then there’s the cheap and very cheerful Leapmotor T03 which now costs £14,495 after the £1,500 ‘Leap Grant’. Plenty of other brands are offering big discounts on their EVs, while even the likes of Tesla have low-rate finance offers to make monthly payments more affordable – and, in many cases, cheaper even than petrol or diesel models.
Read more: Independent on MSN
