The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has provided the BVRLA with additional context around how the Electric Car Grant (ECG) can be accessed, and what could cause orders to become fraudulent.
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has provided the BVRLA with additional context around how the Electric Car Grant (ECG) can be accessed, and what could cause orders to become fraudulent.
Updates have been made to the association’s FAQ on the ECG; it is a living document that will continue to be updated as details are clarified or confirmed.
Two key clarifications have been shared by OZEV following queries from BVRLA members.
1. The grant must be included on the OEM/dealer invoice and cannot be retrospectively added
Irrespective of dates, if the OEM/dealer invoice on an order does not explicitly include the ECG, then it will not be honoured. The grant can either be included on an invoice by an OEM “at risk” prior to them getting approval for a vehicle, or once the vehicle is approved by OZEV and eligible for the grant. If an order has been signed without the grant explicitly included and the car later becomes eligible before delivery there is no retrospectivity and those orders will not receive the grant.
There is no list of which OEMs are offering product “at risk” and this will be down to conversations with OEMs to find out. OZEV plans to have the portal open for dealers/OEMs to add orders and a list of eligible cars active from 11 August, but cars will be added to that list at any point going forward from then.
Eligible vehicles will be included on this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/plug-in-vehicle-grants/cars. The first vehicles were added on Tuesday 5 August.
2. An order is when a contract is entered into between an OEM or dealer and a leaseco or rental firm
This is the point at which the grant is either locked in or locked out. OZEV has flagged they will be doing enhanced audits to ensure there is no fraud where ‘locked out’ orders are cancelled and converted into ‘locked in’ orders if a car gains eligibility before an order delivery date.
Following last month’s introduction of the Electric Car Grant (ECG), the BVRLA has been getting a steady flow of questions from members on how it works and how systems might need to change.
The association is aware of the impacts the ECG is having on members and their customers’ ability to buy BEVs and the uncertainty it has caused. Any specific concerns or challenges should be shared with the team via [email protected].
