Labour has made a dog's dinner of its headline motoring scheme with the future of electric vehicle sales now as uncertain as ever. Last month, the Government confirmed plans for a £650million compensation scheme, offering a £3,750 discount on the sale of a brand new electric model valued at under £37,000.

It was hoped the new scheme would turbocharge the private sales of electric models, which have always lagged behind fleet demand. However, car dealers are reporting that drivers are turning down deals until further information on potential discounts is issued. This isn't the driver's fault. Why pay a higher inflated price for your brand new dream EV if an almost £4k reduction could be just days away?

Sounds fair enough to me, although that almost £4k hike isn't coming, and probably never will. New analysis, reported by The Times, shows that not a single driver will be eligible to receive the maximum grant.

Only 22 car models are eligible for any discount whatsoever, with none set to be paid out the maximum fee. Instead, it's reported that a smaller £1,500 payment will be issued to those opting for models such as the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra Electric.

It means the EV grant appears to be a case of 'all bark and no bite' with UK drivers and dealerships the ones most affected.

The headline figure was a great PR boost and would have inspired motorists to start looking at electric vehicle advertisement boards on the off-chance the numbers would add up. Meanwhile, officials can justifiably claim their scheme was not misleading as their statement confirmed discounts would be offered "up to £3,750" instead of a minimum.

Ginny Buckley, chief executive of advice website electrifying.com stressed: "Far from boosting confidence, the rollout has created confusion among buyers and carmakers alike, slowing sales as would-be EV owners sit on their hands, waiting for clarity."

Instead of providing confidence to consumers to make the transition, the new rules have created chaos. Firstly, the grant is likely to reduce EV sales numbers in the short term as people wait for answers on how much they could receive before finalising a deal.

Secondly, how many of these potential EV buyers will now pull out after learning the £3,750 discount is actually just £1,500.

It means the scheme is unlikely to generate the massive boost in private EV sales that are desperately needed to breed confidence ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. Can the Government really press ahead with such a ban if organic consumer demand isn't already there?

A Department for Transport statement read: "Drivers are already benefitting from discounts worth thousands under the Electric Car Grant with 22 models announced in the last month alone, helping drive down costs whilst providing a vital boost for industry. We will continue to work closely with the sector including dealers to help more."