Are electric car grants about to make an Oasis-style comeback?

Like the Gallagher brothers in Cardiff a few short days ago, it sounds like electric car grants are on the verge of a glorious return after years out in the wilderness. Maybe without the same levels of nostalgia.

According to a report by The Telegraph, the government will soon announce plans to subsidise the cost of some electric cars in order to boost uptake.

The UK hasn’t had a scheme like this for cars since 2022, when the Plug-In Car Grant was finally axed after an initial five-grand handout was slowly whittled down to £1.5k.

A quarter of new cars sold in 2025 have been electric – with BEVs’ market share rising almost six per cent against the same period last year – but that’s still miles off what’s needed to keep to the incoming 2030 ban of petrols ‘n’ diesels.

"We are going to be making some announcements later this week on how we make it more affordable for people to buy an electric vehicle,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. “I can guarantee to your viewers that we will be making it cheaper for those who do want to make the switch to an electric vehicle.”

More on the actual detail when we have it.

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday the government is pumping more cash into on-street charging. Councils will be given a pot worth £25m for ‘cross-pavement technology’ that will allow those without driveways to charge up on the cheapest domestic electricity rates.

"The innovative cross-pavement technology will allow cables to run safely beneath pavements, connecting homes directly to parked vehicles," says the release. Which is admirable, although accompanying pictures reveal this ‘innovative’ tech to be… a groove with a metal strip over it. Right.

There’s also going to be more funding for electric ambulances, plus better signage to advertise charging stations on motorways and A-roads.