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Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
7 discounted EVs you can buy through government's controversial new tax payer-funded scheme
The Electric Car Grant makes EVs under £37,000 more affordable, including for Motability users, but raises concerns over taxpayer funding and infrastructure issues PLUGGED IN 7 discounted EVs you can buy through government's controversial new tax payer-funded scheme Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW £650 million grant will knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs, the government has revealed. A new Electric Car Grant will see taxpayers foot the bill for EVs costing under £37,000, and only models from brands that have committed to a so-called Science-Based Target (SBT) for emissions. 7 A £650million grant will knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs - with concerns raised over taxpayer funding and infrastructure issues Credit: Getty According to Auto Express, fewer than 50 new EV models would be eligible for the grant - provided they pass the necessary criteria. The scheme will also provide additional support for electric car purchases for Motability customers - as revealed in The Sun's recent report - offering substantial discounts. This has raised concerns among some critics, who argue that taxpayers may effectively be contributing twice - once through the Motability scheme and again through the EV grant subsidies. Furthermore, some welfare users have expressed difficulties with EVs, with issues such as limited home charging facilities and inadequate public charging infrastructure causing frustration for some. Despite these concerns, supporters of the scheme, including Motability Operations, emphasise that including Motability users in the EV grant is vital to ensure the transition to electric vehicles remains inclusive and supports disabled drivers. A spokesperson from Motability Operations told The Sun: 'We welcome the Government's Electric Car Grant and the inclusion of our customers. 'It's vital that the EV transition is inclusive and doesn't leave disabled people behind. 'With the 2035 deadline on the horizon, any move that supports both drivers and the wider industry and improves positivity towards EVs is welcome.' Recent findings, though, found that drivers with ailments including constipation and "tennis elbow" were being funded by the Motability scheme. Some influencers have even been found to boast online about obtaining these vehicles for minimal costs, and even advising others on how to maximise their benefits. Alpine A290 GTS delivers a hot hatch EV that comes with F1-style 'overtake button' SHOPPING LIST There are also several key points to keep in mind before you set out to choose your shiny new discontinued EV. Firstly, the scheme will not be immediately accessible - even though it officially launches on July 16. This is because car brands must apply for eligibility for the vehicles in their ranges, rather than buyers being able to register grants at the point of purchase. Also, not all grants will amount to £3,750 as the scheme adopts a two-tier system, with the value deducted from the recommended retail price (RRP) depending on how environmentally friendly the manufacturing process is for each model. According to the RAC, these restrictions encourage drivers to choose models that are not only cost-effective, but also more sustainable for the planet. To that end, we've picked out seven EV examples that could get the EV grant - though it remains to be seen if they will meet the criteria for the full subsidy of £3,750. Dacia Spring - Priced from £14,995 7 Dacia Spring Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The nation's cheapest EV at £14,995 (if we look past the Citroen Ami, which is classed as a motorised quadricycle), the Spring, could be about to get a whole lot cheaper - if it meets the EV grant's criteria. The little EV, which boasts up to 140 miles of range - certainly enough for a trip to the shops and back - certainly doesn't boast many frills, but it's rather great for simple, daily use. Fiat Grande Panda - Priced from £21,035 7 Fiat Grande Panda Credit: PA One of the world's most famous nameplates is back, bigger and better than ever. The Panda, known as the national car of Italy, starts at around £21,035 for its electric iteration and has been given a radical new look. And, as the name suggests, it's a little bigger - somewhat similar in size to its Stellantis cousin, the Citroen C3 - with enough space that Fiat described as 'perfect for comfortable family living and contemporary urban mobility'. Peugeot e-208 - Priced from £30,150 7 Peugeot e-208 Credit: Getty Stylish and well-rounded, the e-208 is one of the finest all electric hatchbacks available - offering excellent performance alongside practicality, making it one of the most popular choices in its price range. It features a 50kWh battery and a 100kW electric motor, offering a range of up to 225 miles. Better yet, a GTI version is coming soon in what we described as a huge nod to an 80s classic. MG4 - Priced from £26,995 7 MG4 Credit: MG The MG4, often praised for its value for money, impressive range - which starts at 218 miles for the standard edition - and modern features, it's also one of the best EVs around for families thanks to surprising levels of space inside. Better yet, its suspension is tuned for comfort on long journeys, absorbing minor road imperfections. Fiat 500e - Priced from £25,035 7 Fiat 500e Credit: PA One of the nation's favourite petrol-powered little cars was discontinued last year, with Fiat now urging buyers to get their 500 thrills from the all-electric 500e. The iconic design is still there, but with the benefits of electric driving - offering a compact and efficient option for city drivers. Volkswagen ID.3 - Priced from £30,860 7 Volkswagen ID.3 Credit: Getty One of the most refined options available for under £37,000, the ID.3 delivers a comfortable ride, good range and the reliability associated with VW. Better yet, it offers user-friendly features, decent charging speeds and a good overall value, particularly when considering running costs. Honourable mentions: Alpine A290: instantly iconic and one of the most fun cars - electric or otherwise - on the market, the A290, which starts at £33,000, has won numerous awards and plaudits. MINI Cooper Electric: another hot hatch that's high on the fun factor, the famous Cooper now comes electric - including all the fun driving dynamics you'd come to expect. Volvo EX30: want something premium? This compact electric SUV stands out for its style, typically minimalist Scandinavian design and impressive performance, as well as all the practicality and tech that Volvo does best.
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
7 discounted EVs you can buy through government's controversial new tax payer-funded scheme
A NEW £650 million grant will knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs, the government has revealed. A new Electric Car Grant will see taxpayers foot the bill for EVs costing under £37,000, and only models from brands that have committed to a so-called Science-Based Target (SBT) for emissions. Advertisement 7 A £650million grant will knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs - with concerns raised over taxpayer funding and infrastructure issues Credit: Getty According to models would be eligible for the grant - provided they pass the necessary criteria. The scheme will also provide additional support for electric car purchases for Motability customers - This has raised concerns among some critics, who argue that taxpayers may effectively be contributing twice - once through the Motability scheme and again through the EV grant subsidies. Furthermore, some welfare users have expressed difficulties with EVs, with issues such as limited home charging facilities and inadequate public charging infrastructure causing frustration for some. Advertisement Read more Motors News Despite these concerns, supporters of the scheme, including Motability Operations, emphasise that including Motability users in the EV grant is vital to ensure the transition to electric vehicles remains inclusive and supports disabled drivers. A spokesperson from Motability Operations told The Sun: 'We welcome the Government's Electric Car Grant and the inclusion of our customers. 'It's vital that the EV transition is inclusive and doesn't leave disabled people behind. 'With the 2035 deadline on the horizon, any move that supports both drivers and the wider industry and improves positivity towards EVs is welcome.' Advertisement Most read in Motors Recent findings, though, Some influencers have even been found to boast online about obtaining these vehicles for minimal costs, and even advising others on how to maximise their benefits. Alpine A290 GTS delivers a hot hatch EV that comes with F1-style 'overtake button' SHOPPING LIST There are also several key points to keep in mind before you set out to choose your shiny new discontinued EV. Firstly, the scheme will not be immediately accessible - even though it officially launches on July 16. Advertisement This is because car brands must apply for eligibility for the vehicles in their ranges, rather than buyers being able to register grants at the point of purchase. Also, not all grants will amount to £3,750 as the scheme adopts a two-tier system, with the value deducted from the recommended retail price (RRP) depending on how environmentally friendly the manufacturing process is for each model. According to the RAC, these restrictions encourage drivers to choose models that are not only cost-effective, but also more sustainable for the planet. To that end, we've picked out seven EV examples that could get the EV grant - though it remains to be seen if they will meet the criteria for the full subsidy of £3,750. Advertisement Dacia Spring - Priced from £14,995 7 Dacia Spring Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The nation's cheapest EV at £14,995 (if we look past the Citroen Ami, which is classed as a motorised quadricycle), the Spring , could be about to get a whole lot cheaper - if it meets the EV grant's criteria. The little EV, which boasts up to 140 miles of range - certainly enough for a trip to the shops and back - certainly doesn't boast many frills, but it's rather great for simple, daily use. Fiat Grande Panda - Priced from £21,035 7 Fiat Grande Panda Credit: PA Advertisement One of the world's most famous nameplates is back, bigger and better than ever. The Panda, known as the national car of Italy, starts at around £21,035 for its electric iteration and has been given a radical new look . And, as the name suggests, it's a little bigger - somewhat similar in size to its Stellantis cousin, the Citroen C3 - with enough space that Fiat described as 'perfect for comfortable family living and contemporary urban mobility'. Peugeot e-208 - Priced from £30,150 7 Peugeot e-208 Credit: Getty Advertisement Stylish and well-rounded, the e-208 is one of the finest all electric hatchbacks available - offering excellent performance alongside practicality, making it one of the most popular choices in its price range. It features a 50kWh battery and a 100kW electric motor, offering a range of up to 225 miles. Better yet, a GTI version is coming soon in what we described as a huge nod to an 80s classic. MG4 - Priced from £26,995 7 MG4 Credit: MG Advertisement The MG4, often praised for its value for money, impressive range - which starts at 218 miles for the standard edition - and modern features , it's also one of the best EVs around for families thanks to surprising levels of space inside. Better yet, its suspension is tuned for comfort on long journeys, absorbing minor road imperfections. Fiat 500e - Priced from £25,035 7 Fiat 500e Credit: PA One of the nation's favourite petrol-powered little cars was discontinued last year, with Fiat now urging buyers to get their 500 thrills from the all-electric 500e. Advertisement The iconic design is still there, but with the benefits of electric driving - offering a compact and efficient option for city drivers. Volkswagen ID.3 - Priced from £30,860 7 Volkswagen ID.3 Credit: Getty One of the most refined options available for under £37,000, the ID.3 delivers a comfortable ride, good range and the reliability associated with VW. Better yet, it offers user-friendly features, decent charging speeds and a good overall value, particularly when considering running costs. Advertisement Honourable mentions: Alpine A290: instantly iconic and one of the most fun cars - electric or otherwise - on the market, the A290, which starts at £33,000, has won numerous awards and plaudits. MINI Cooper Electric: another hot hatch that's high on the fun factor, the famous Cooper now comes electric - including all the fun driving dynamics you'd come to expect. Volvo EX30: want something premium? This compact electric SUV stands out for its style, typically minimalist Scandinavian design and impressive performance, as well as all the practicality and tech that Volvo does best.
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
EV car grant returns with savings of up to £3750 on 'affordable' models
The EV grant is back, meaning electric cars are set to become more affordable. As private sales of electric cars stall, the Government has finally announced the relaunch of an Electric Vehicle (EV) grant scheme. The result will mean the price of a new zero-emissions car could be slashed by up to £3750. The Department for Transport (DfT) said the discounts could be applied to new EVs from Wednesday (July 16). Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Labour's new Electric Car Grant will be available on EVs priced under the scheme's £37,000 barrier. Importantly, only models from manufacturers that have committed to a 'Science-Based Target' (SBT) for carbon reduction and emissions, and have already showcased reductions, will be included. The scheme will operate on two tiers. The full £3750 discount will be available on cars deemed the most environmentally friendly. Other EVs not deemed 'green enough' will be discounted by £1500. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So, what EVs would be available if they meet the sustainability criteria? Important to stress here, the government has yet to disclose exactly what the sustainability criteria will actually be, or how it will be measured. It has also yet to define the SBT's threshold figures. Kia EV3 Amongst those electric cars that slip in under the £37,000 threshold include the (priced from): Renault 5 E-Tech (£22,995) Fiat 500e (£25,035) Mini Cooper Electric (£26,905) Renault 5 E-Tech Renault 4 E-Tech (£26,995) Ford Puma Gen-E (£29,995) Peugeot e-208 (£30,150) VW ID.3 (£30,860) EV Charger Kia EV3 (£33,005) Volvo EX30 (£33,060) Omoda E5 (£33,065) Hyundai Kona Electric (£34,500) Cupra Born (£35,690) The £37,000 figures was chosen because, according to the government, 'it covers the more affordable end of the market, thus ensuring funding for the Zero Emission Vehicle transition can reach as many people as possible'. And it's worth highlighting that, with many manufacturers already heavily discounting electric cars, it's not out of the realms of probability that some carmakers will reduce the car's recommended retail price (RRP) in order for it to fall within the Government's £37,000 cut-off point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Across the UK, registrations of electric cars showed a near 26% year-on-year increase in May. Significantly, despite that growth, the shift toward EVs has been more substantial among fleets than individual consumers. Private buyers have been slower to adopt, primarily because of cost concerns. The new scheme will see the Government allocate £650 million in grants: that's enough to subsidise around 173,000 electric car purchases at the maximum grant amount of £3750 per car. This latest scheme comes three years after the previous Conservative government axed the Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG), which offered a fixed £1500 off list prices on EVs priced below £32,000. Following that, demand for EVs has fallen short of the target figures which were announced at the time. Not surprisingly, recently the car industry has called for support to stimulate the market, particularly for private buyers.
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: JNU's MSc Biotech programme gets flexible exit, entry options
The School of Biotechnology (SBT) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is introducing multiple level entry and exit options for their MSc Biotechnology programme from the academic session 2025-26, the first round of admissions of which is ongoing. This comes as an effort to align the programme with the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. JNU. (PTI) Under the new framework, students who complete one year of the two-year master's course will be awarded with a Postgraduate Diploma in Biotechnology and students who complete two years will get a postgraduate degree, the dean of SBT, Balaji (goes by first name), said on Friday. 'Students will not be applying separately for the diploma. Instead, those who complete the first year of the program can choose to exit after the second semester with the diploma, provided they meet all academic requirements and inform the department in advance,' Balaji told HT on Friday. He added, 'In addition to this, a new one-year (Research) program is now being offered as a lateral entry option. This flexible program is open to students who have either completed the first year of an in Biotechnology at another institute or finished a four-year undergraduate degree with a research component.' However, Balaji clarified that the admission to this programme depends on seat availability from the regular two-year course. 'We have a total of 30 seats available in the MSc programme as of now. So if 24 seats have been filled in the first year and we have seven seats left, then those seats will be offered in lateral entry in the second year,' he clarified. The second year will focus less on theory and more on research, as students will engage in full-time, year-long research project, working closely with faculty on contemporary problems in biotechnology and allied areas. 'To foster critical thinking and discussion, the program includes a vibrant Journal Club, where students analyze recent scientific papers and engage in peer debate, an experience that builds scientific literacy, public speaking, and analytical skills,' Balaji said. Registration for the first round of admission to SBT is scheduled to end on June 26.
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Kim Soo Hyun's global rebranding begins amid 50K+ demanding GaroSero crackdown
Amid the fallout in South Korea over the Kim Sae Ron dating controversy, Kim Soo Hyun is quietly getting an image makeover overseas. A longtime heavyweight in Korean entertainment, Soo Hyun's hit drama My Love from the Star, which originally aired back in 2013, is finally making its South American debut nearly 11 years later. Meanwhile, the series is being re-aired in Taiwan. Support trucks are being sent across borders, and the moment's being celebrated loudly on social media by his fan. All this while, GaroSero, the YouTube channel that first accused the actor of dating the late Sae Ron when she was a minor, is now in hot water, with the Anti-GaroSero Act gaining serious traction through a petition that's pushing for legal reform. Also read: Amid Kim Soo Hyun backlash, a look at 7 Korean actors who bounced back from controversies Weeks after reports that some of Kim Soo Hyun's early K-dramas have seen a sudden popularity spike on OTT platforms across various countries, Brazil's biggest private TV network, SBT, kicked off the broadcast of My Love from the Star on June 2. The move comes under a new programming block titled 'Asian Production Line,' dedicated to Asian shows in a nod to how the entertainment industry has grown and shifted globally. As for why they picked this particular drama, SBT said, 'The drama has achieved international popularity and commercial success across multiple countries. With its unique blend of romance, drama, sci-fi, and humour, along with a captivating script and stellar performances, it resonates with fans of all ages,' per KBIZOOM. The Brazilian audience seems excited as well. Fans have been flooding SBT's website and social media pages with messages, promotional content, and big support. SBT further said, 'The airing of My Love from the Star on SBT reflects how K-dramas are no longer niche content, but now a key part of mainstream programming. We're actively following social media and streaming trends to cater to the open TV audience.' Also read: Park Bo Gum made a request to Kim So Hyun years ago: 'Remember this when the time comes'; the story behind Good Boy casting Starring Jun Ji Hyun, Park Hae Jin, Yoo In Na, and Ahn Jae Hyun, My Love from the Star is a fantasy rom-com that follows Do Min Joon, an alien who landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty and has been stuck here for over 400 years. Do Min Joon's unsympathetic view of humans starts to crack when top actress Cheon Song Yi moves in next door and flips his life upside down. Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, have filed lawsuits against both Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron's family, accusing them of defamation, privacy violations, and spreading personal material with malicious intent. According to Nate News, a few days ago, a public petition titled 'Petition to Improve the System to Prevent the Repeated Spread of False Information and Human Rights Violations on Online Platforms' was submitted to South Korea's National Assembly on May 22. By June 3, over 54,000 people had signed it, and it's still open until June 21. The act has been dubbed the Anti-Garo Sero, and it calls for action against YouTubers like Kim Se Ui (the host), including legal punishment, platform-based sanctions, and an independent investigation. Soo Hyun's Disney+ Plus series Knock Off, alongside actor Jo Bo Ah, has been put on hold. The actor has also lost major brand endorsements, including Shabu All Day, which recently replaced him with actor Kim Woo Bin. Soo Hyun earlier admitted to knowing Kim Sae Ron but insisted on being in a relationship only after the actor turned 18. During a press conference, he explained why he initially denied it. He said, 'I made that decision as the celebrity Kim Soo Hyun,' adding that he was trying to protect his image and the K-drama Queen of Tears. He now faces lawsuits demanding he pay back 5.8 billion KRW.
