Boosted by the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG), which has now helped over 100,000 drivers save up to £3,750 off a new EV, the number of electric cars in the UK is up 15 percent on last year, with March 2026 seeing the highest demand ever recorded.
Included in the top 5 EVs sold under the Electric Car Grant were the Ford Puma Gen-E, Vauxhall Frontera Electric, Renault 5, Skoda Elroq and Volkswagen ID.3.
The ECG aims to break down one of the key barriers to drivers making the switch to electric by slashing the upfront cost of an EV. Demand for EVs surged 10 percent in the six months from when the Electric Car Grant launched in July 2025, showing that it is helping to boost sales for manufacturers and helping to power up growth and support jobs across the country.
Electric cars are now cheaper to buy, on average, than petrol models for the first time, according to recent figures from Autotrader, thanks to discounts applied to EVs from the Government’s ECG.
The Government is investing £7.5 billion to support businesses in the transition to electric, making it easier and cheaper than ever before for people to make the switch, especially against the backdrop of high and fluctuating prices at the pumps as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
The Government is also aiming to deliver the infrastructure needed to support the uptake in EVs, having announced £600 million just last year to rollout hundreds of thousands more chargers, building on the over 119,000 already available; meaning that there is now nearly twice as many chargers as fuel pumps.
Renters, landlords and businesses can also claim up to £500 off an electric charger, covering around half the cost of installation. This means drivers can save up to £1,400 a year on running costs, as compared to a petrol car when accessing cheaper domestic electricity rates.
“Today, over two million EVs are now registered across the UK - a key moment in the UK’s transition to electric, backed by £7.5 billion in government funding” said Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport. “And as global fuel prices continue to fluctuate, making the switch has never made more sense. We’ve made it cheaper and easier than ever to buy an EV, helping over 100,000 drivers save up to £3,750 off the cost of a new electric car. We’re also investing £600 million to deliver hundreds of thousands of additional chargers to support this uptick and build on the 119,000 already available – that’s twice the number of petrol pumps.”
Comparing 2025 with 2024, in the UK there were:
2,617,000 vehicles registered for the first time, an increase of less than 1 percent.
528,000 zero emission vehicles registered for the first time, an increase of 24 percent, with 510,000 being road using vehicles.
473,000 zero emission cars registered for the first time, an increase of 24 percent.
At the end of December 2025, compared to December 2024, in the UK there were:
42.3 million licensed vehicles, an increase of 1 percent.
2,012,000 licensed zero emission vehicles, an increase of 31.2 percent, with 1,874,000 being road using.
1,737,000 zero emission cars, an increase of 35 percent
At the end of 2025 zero emission vehicles accounted for 4.8 percent of all licensed vehicles, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the end of 2024.
“2 million EVs is a huge milestone and shows what’s possible when the right incentives are in place” added Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer for EVA England. “But this can’t just be about targets and big headline numbers. Getting the transition right means reaching the people who’ve so far been left out. Particularly those without easy access to home charging who face higher costs, and many middle- and lower-income households. That’s what will ultimately determine whether this shift works for everyday drivers, not just those already able to make the switch.”
"Reaching two million EVs in the UK is a significant milestone and Government support, including the Electric Car Grant, has helped drivers make the switch" said Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, the electric car buying and advice site. "But this growth has also been driven by huge investment from the charging industry and car makers and, crucially, a wave of genuinely compelling electric cars with longer range, faster charging and broader choice than ever before. That combination is accelerating adoption, and it's what will keep momentum building."
For additional information:
