If a UK driver would like to minimise the impact on the environment from their driving, there is now an ever-growing choice of options from car manufacturers. So, if a journey is essential and cannot realistically be completed by public transport, with a considered driving style, drivers can minimise their tailpipe emissions. The main table below captures the main contenders available now, which have CO2 emissions at 50g/km, or less.
To incentivise uptake, the Government has several regulations - Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), and Plug-in Grants.
Vehicle Excise Duty
For a long time now, Vehicle Excise Duty (or 'car tax', as it's colloquially known) has been tapered based on carbon dioxide emissions. Since April 2017, this has changed, so that only zero-emission vehicles will avoid the standard annual rate. This may incentivise manufacturers to produce electric-powered vehicles in the medium-term, but means customers lose the incentive to buy cars with very low emissions (but more than zero).
Here are the rates for cars up to 50g/km of CO2:
* An additional £310 per year is payable for the first five years, if a car costs more than £40,000.
N.B. These rates do not take account of any additional incentives which may be introduced to move away from diesel, now more widely appreciated as a cause of health problems in urban areas. More details available here.
To incentivise uptake, the Government has several regulations - Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), and Plug-in Grants.
Vehicle Excise Duty
For a long time now, Vehicle Excise Duty (or 'car tax', as it's colloquially known) has been tapered based on carbon dioxide emissions. Since April 2017, this has changed, so that only zero-emission vehicles will avoid the standard annual rate. This may incentivise manufacturers to produce electric-powered vehicles in the medium-term, but means customers lose the incentive to buy cars with very low emissions (but more than zero).
Here are the rates for cars up to 50g/km of CO2:
| Emissions (g/CO2/km) | First year rate | Standard rate* |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | £0 | £0 |
| 1-50 | £10 | £140 |
* An additional £310 per year is payable for the first five years, if a car costs more than £40,000.
N.B. These rates do not take account of any additional incentives which may be introduced to move away from diesel, now more widely appreciated as a cause of health problems in urban areas. More details available here.
Plug-in Grants
The Government is currently offering plug-in grants of up to £4,500 for purchases of new vehicles which meet the following eligibility:
| Category | CO2 emissions | Zero emission range | Grant | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Under 50g/km | At least 70 miles | 35% of cost | £4,500 |
| 2 | Under 50g/km | 10 to 69 miles | 35% of cost | £2,500 |
| 3 | 50 to 75g/km | At least 20 miles | 35% of cost | £2,500 |
Cat 1 or 2 cars, but with a list price of over £60,000 are NOT eligible (marked with an 'x' in the table below)
Notes - Data adapted from the Vehicle Certification Agency - the author takes no responsibility for any errors or omissions made (but would be grateful if you could let me know if you find any!)
| Man. | Model | Power | CO2 | PIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW | i3 | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| CITROEN | C-Zero | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| HYUNDAI | Ioniq | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| JAGUAR | IPACE | Electricity | 0 | ? |
| KIA | Soul EV | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| NISSAN | E-NV200 | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| NISSAN | NEW Leaf | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| PEUGEOT | iOn | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| RENAULT | Zoe | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| SMART | EQ fortwo/forfour | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| TESLA | Model S | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| TESLA | Model X | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | e-UP | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | eGolf | Electricity | 0 | 1 |
| BMW | i3 with Range Extender 19" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 12 | 1? |
| BMW | i3 with Range Extender 20" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 13 | 1? |
| AUDI | A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI 150PS S tronic with 17'' wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 38 | 2 |
| KIA | Optima 4-door | Electricity / Petrol | 37 | 2 |
| KIA | Niro PHEV | Electricity / Petrol | 29 | 2 |
| AUDI | A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI 150PS S tronic with 18'' wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 40 | 2 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Golf GTE 1.4 TSI 150PS DSG Plug-In-Hybrid | Electricity / Petrol | 38 | 2 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Golf GTE Advance 1.4 TSI 150PS DSG Plug-In-Hybrid | Electricity / Petrol | 40 | 2 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Passat Saloon 1.4 Plug-In-Hybrid 156PS DSG GTE | Electricity / Petrol | 40 | 2 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Passat Estate 1.4 Plug-In-Hybrid 218PS DSG GTE | Electricity / Petrol | 40 | 2 |
| MITSUBISHI | Outlander PHEV | Electricity / Petrol | 44 | 2 |
| BMW | 330e 7Jx16" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 44 | 2 |
| BMW | 330e 7.5Jx16" and 17" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 45 | 2 |
| BMW | 225xe 17" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 46 | 2 |
| BMW | 530e | Electricity / Petrol | 46 | 2 |
| VOLVO | V60 D5 AWD Plug in Hybrid | Electricity / Diesel | 48 | 2 |
| VOLVO | S90 AWD Plug in Hybrid | Electricity / Diesel | 46 | 2 |
| VOLVO | V90 D5 AWD Plug in Hybrid | Electricity / Diesel | 46 | 2 |
| MERCEDES-BENZ | C 350e Saloon with 17'' rear wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 48 | 2 |
| VOLVO | V60 D6 Twin-Engine Plug in Hybrid | Electricity / Diesel | 48 | 2 |
| BMW | 225xe 18" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 2 |
| BMW | 330e 18" and 19" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 2 |
| VOLVO | XC90 T8/T8 Twin Engine | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 2 |
| VOLVO | XC60 T8 Twin Engine | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 2 |
| BMW | i8 | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | x |
| TOYOTA | Prius 2017 Plug-in Hybrid | Electricity / Petrol | 22 | 2 |
| MERCEDES-BENZ | C 350 e Estate with 17" wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 2 |
| MERCEDES-BENZ | E 350 e with 18'' rear wheels | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 3 |
| AUDI | Q7 e-tron 3.0 TDI V6 quattro | Electricity / Diesel | 48 | x |
| BMW | 740e - 19'' & 20'' tyres | Electricity / Petrol | 50 | |
| MINI | MINI Cooper S E ALL4 Countryman - 17'' & 18'' tyres without Runflats | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | 3 |
| MERCEDES-BENZ | S560e | Electricity / Petrol | 49 | x |
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| Jaguar I-PACE |
