From Monday (August 11), thousands of Blue Badge holders could miss out on up to £3,750 in savings with the launch of a new scheme. The Government’s Electric Car Grant portal, established following Labour’s announcement of discounts on brand new electric vehicles (EVs), is set to go live next week.
The discount will be available to motorists purchasing vehicles priced under £37,000, as part of an effort to stimulate demand for sustainable and electric models. However, experts have warned that an astonishing 11,000 disabled Blue Badge holders may not qualify for the savings due to stringent affordability criteria.
Matt Fieldhouse, Group Managing Director and Car Expert at Mobility in Motion, has emphasised that only 20 of the top 40 most accessible and affordable EVs on the Motability Scheme meet the price limit. This means that half of the most practical models for disabled drivers and Blue Badge holders won’t qualify for the scheme, reports the Express.
Matt said: “The UK Government’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG), which launched this month, aims to make electric vehicles more affordable by offering up to £3,750 off new EVs under £37,000. However, the policy overlooks the needs of thousands of disabled drivers who access vehicles through the Motability Scheme.”
He added: “In the first half of 2025 alone, around 225,000 new EVs were registered in the UK – and if we apply the current Blue Badge holder rate (4.9 per cent of the UK population), that suggests around 11,025 disabled drivers are expected to purchase an EV car between now and December.”
Matt continued: “New research by Mobility in Motion shows that just 20 of the 40 most accessible and affordable EVs available through the Motability Scheme meet the government’s price threshold for the new ECG grant, meaning half of the most practical and accessible EVs are already ruled out.”
The scheme offers no special provisions or priority access for disabled motorists or Blue Badge holders. This means road users must comply with identical regulations and price limits as any other driver seeking the discount.
Drivers will also need to fund any disability modifications or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) conversions from their own resources. Matt emphasised that urgent additional support for disabled drivers was essential to address the “real world needs” of motorists.
He continued: “To make the transition to electric vehicles truly inclusive, the latest policy must consider additional support for disabled motorists. This includes raising the price cap for EVs under the Motability Scheme, recognising the additional costs of adapting your vehicle, and ensuring that grant eligibility reflects the real-world needs of disabled drivers – not just headline affordability.”
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