Consumer interest in electric vehicles (EV) has seen a significant boost following the introduction of the Government’s £3,750 Electric Car Grant (ECG), according to new data from Autotrader. Following the schemes mid-July launch, interest in EVs has climbed by 20%, with the UK’s largest online automotive marketplace recording 4.5 million EV advert views. The rise has been especially strong for vehicles eligible for the grant, with advert views for these models surging by 118%. In stark contrast, petrol car views increased by just 2%, reaching 6.5 million over the same period. The growing appetite for cleaner alternatives was reflected in a 44% increase in enquiries for new electric vehicles during the first three months of the grant’s rollout. Lower-priced electric vehicles appear to be driving much of the momentum. Views of EVs listed under £30,000 rose 27%, climbing from 850,000 to nearly 1.1 million. The Renault 5 E-Tech led the way among eligible models, attracting almost 175,000 views and becoming the most-searched vehicle under the grant scheme. Meanwhile, one of the biggest winners of the ECG’s launch has been the Ford Puma Gen-E, which qualifies for the full £3,750 incentive. The model’s share of total EV enquires jumped from just over 0.2% to 5.2% between July and October. In total, 28 electric models now qualify for the grant, with more than 20 manufacturers offering additional discounts to attract buyers. The average price gap between electric and petrol vehicles has subsequently narrowed to 19%, down from 34% in 2023. The rise in demand comes amid a broader upswing in car sales. September delivered the strongest new car registrations in five years, with year-on-year growth of 14%. In the used market, electric vehicles are now the fastest-selling fuel type for the third month running. On average, used EVs are selling in 27 days, which is quicker than both petrol (28 days) and diesel (31 days) models. The number of new electric cars listed below £30,000 on Autotrader has grown from 47 to 58 since the grant’s introduction, while listings over £40,000 have declined from 59 to 53.