Govt reveals first cars to qualify for EV grants

OFFICIAL Initial 19 eligible cars include models from Alpine, Citroen, Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall

- Tom Jervis [e-mail]

THE hatchback of the moment, the Renault 5, is among 19 cars from Renault, Alpine, Citroen, Nissan and Vauxhall confirmed as eligible for the Government's Electric Car Grant, dropping the starting price of the retro R5 range to just £21,495.

But no car has yet qualified for the higher £3,750 amount, with all 19 coming in at the lower £1,500 level.

Buyers will now be able to secure a grant on a new R5, as well as other Renault EVs such as the R4, the Megane hatch and the Scenic SUV.

Renault has confirmed that the R5's sporty sibling, the Alpine A290 will also qualify, although the most-powerful GTS edition doesn't make the cut, because this costs more than the £37,000 threshold.