Electric Car News - The BMW iX1 and iX2 Electric Car Lease get a £3750 grant!

The BMW iX1 and iX2 Electric Car Lease get a £3750 grant - Electric Car News

The good news for UK electric motorists is that more cars are benefitting from the  UK Government’s grant  for a zero-emission vehicle . Quite succinctly, if you qualify for a Band 1 grant, you will receive a generous £3,750 and if you qualify for a Band 2 grant you will receive a lower £1,500 assistance.

From the time of introduction through to today (27 July 2026), more EVs have joined this list, with 17 variations now enjoying the Band 1 subsidy. This is no small discount and the higher support is helping more battery options become affordable for those looking to buy or lease a new car.

As time progresses, this will mean more cost-effective solutions in the used and ex-lease electric segment, which is also a major part of the UK motoring economy in 2026.

Before we jump onto the big news from BMW, it is worth just addressing the concept of rapid charging (also known as DC). For most electric car owners with a drive, or some form of off-road parking, the majority of any charging will be carried out at home.

Not only is it far cheaper, especially now that VAT on home charging has been removed by Andy Burnham, it is a more convenient and easier solution. As domestic charge points have improved and become cheaper, this is now the primary method to fuel our BEVs.

In many ways this has dispelled the myths around lack of public charge points and charging issues. The fact is most of us simply do not need or rely on the public network in the normal course of our lives. But, when we do, is this experience quick enough?

A new  BBC  article touched on this recently, where the report detailed the Triple 10 challenge concept car from Shell, which was a purpose-built car produced to showcase some of the key technological aspects of electric driving. While a small battery vehicle, this was capable of charging from 10 – 80% in just 10 minutes, which is about the time expectations for fuelling our petrol or diesel at the forecourt.

To enable this functionality, the car’s motor and battery are submerged in a new coolant from Shell. This means there is no risk of overheating, and the battery can work very hard and do what it needs to safely. The result is that ultra-rapid charging is possible without any risks of damage and the car can subsequently deliver nearly 125 miles of range, while having a small battery.

With a 10km/kWh driving efficiency, this is an impressive and eco-friendly solution. For more information on Therman Management for EVs head to Shell .

For other UK leasing customers, head to our “Electric Vehicle Comparison” guide as this details the rapid charge capability of each vehicle shown on our website; it also shows you the average DC which is 192kW DC as at today (27 July 2026).

Just to add some context, back in 2020 when mass-adoption began in the UK, anything above 100kW was considered to be exceptional. To be closer to 200kW DC within 6 years, is truly astounding, especially when you consider this efficiency will deliver charging experiences of 10 – 20 minutes. Not only are new and used electric cars becoming more affordable, but they are also becoming more convenient too.

For BMW, which became the first premium German brand to enjoy the UK’s EV grant, this increase in customer confidence is happening at a good time. As per the  BMW press release   selected models within their amazing EV range will enjoy the full Band 1 £3,750 grant, including:

•  BMW iX1 eDrive 20   and
•  BMW iX2 eDrive 20

In achieving this support, the compact SUVs are now priced at a cheaper OTR than their petrol equivalents. When you consider the Sport models are now available from £33,315, you now have a more accessible all-electric BMW for both personal and business customers.

The iX2 now has the addition of the Sport too, in order to allow both the traditional and coupé SUV to be part of the customer choice. For leasing, the grants just supplement any discounting already in place, which means some fantastic deals. The specification available includes:

• Sport – this includes 17” alloys, front heated seats, front sports seats, parking assistant, electrically closing tailgate, 10.25” instrument cluster, 10.7” display, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, navigation, front and rear parking sensors and a rear park assist camera;

• xLine – this adds a more striking appearance with 18” alloys, black perforated Veganza, high-gloss black interior trim, luxury instrument panel and satin aluminium exterior trim; and  
• M Sport – this enhances the sportiness of the vehicle with the 18” bi-colour alloys, M Alcantara upholstery, anthracite headlining, M Adaptive suspension and M Sport leather steering wheel.  

What options are available with ECG for the BMW?

See the battery options including:

•  iX1 eDrive 20  - with a usable battery of 65.2 kWh this FWD SUV offers 150kW (201hp), top speeds of 106 mph and 0-62 times of 8.6 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 205 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 285 miles (on a full charge) – 245 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 7 hours with the 130 kW DC enabling 10-80% in 30 minutes. This EV has no Bidirectional charging. It has a 152mpg equivalent and 490L cargo volume (1495L with the seats down). The car can tow 750kg (Unbraked) and 750kg (Braked). The heat pump is standard; and
•  iX2 eDrive 20  - with a usable battery of 65.2 kWh this FWD SUV offers 150kW (201hp), top speeds of 106 mph and 0-62 times of 8.6 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 210 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 290 miles (on a full charge) – 250 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 7 hours with the 130 kW DC enabling 10-80% in 30 minutes. This EV has no Bidirectional charging. It has a 155mpg equivalent and 525L cargo volume (1400L with the seats down). The car can tow 750kg (Unbraked) and 750kg (Braked). The heat pump is standard.  

Want to know more about going into a Grant-friendly electric BMW?

Head to our dedicated BMW special offers section or speak to our experts directly on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]