SMMT: Britain’s decarbonisation decade takes EVs from niche to normal

• UK battery electric car choice surges in past decade, with 167 BEV models now available – up from just 14 in 2016 – and registrations up 46-fold.
• Electric cars now firmly established across the market, with choice in every vehicle segment and average driving range exceeding 300 miles.
• Electrification dominates the showroom, with more than 80% of UK car models zero emission or hybrid and more than half of vehicles at SMMT Test Day 2026 fully electric.

Drivers in Britain have more opportunity than ever to go electric, with the choice, capability and breadth of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on offer transformed over the past decade. Once limited by modest range and cult appeal, electric cars are now mainstream, accounting for two in five (40.9%) of available models.

In 2016, battery electric cars were still a niche proposition, with just 14 models available. Fast forward to 2026, and Britain's motorists can choose from more than 167 BEV models – a 12-fold increase. That choice spans every vehicle segment, from compact urban runarounds and family SUVs to high‑end luxury saloons, with Britain's famed supercar makers joining the shift – led by hybrid innovation with plans for fully electric in the future.

This expansion has been driven by manufacturers' long-term investment, with 51 brands in the UK offering battery electric models, up from 12 a decade ago – highlighting the billions industry has committed to decarbonisation. Meanwhile, average electric driving range now exceeds 300 miles, comfortably surpassing typical weekly mileage – around 127 miles – for most UK drivers.¹ As manufacturers strive to meet ambitious government sales targets, consumers can also benefit from compelling discounts and the Electric Car Grant, available on almost a third of BEV models.²

Electrification has accelerated beyond BEVs. While plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) variants accounted for just 16.2% of available models in 2016, today they represent two in every five cars (42.3%).³ In total, electrified powertrains, including BEVs, are now available in more than four in five models (83.6%), compared with less than one in five (19.8%) in 2016, giving drivers greater flexibility through a choice of technologies.

Consumers have responded strongly, with zero emission car registrations rising from just 10,264 in 2016 to 473,346 last year, and from a 0.4% market share to 23.4%. Manufacturers have driven this growth through new models, attractive pricing and incentives. Early 2026 uptake remains robust, up 22.1% at 176,698 registrations and a 23.1% share in the first four months – impressive progress, although still below government's 33% target.

The shift is mirrored in falling tailpipe emissions, with 36.6 million tonnes of CO₂ saved since 2016 – equal to the annual carbon footprint of more than nine million homes⁴ – as sustained manufacturer investment delivers cleaner vehicles to market.

While EVs are now well established, natural demand lags ambition. Industry has provided more than £10 billion in discounts since 2024 – but fiscal incentives, lower energy prices, more affordable public charging and greater infrastructure rollout remain critical to create the right environment to deliver the ZEV mandate. The industry is calling for a review of regulation and market enablers to ensure a sustainable transition that preserves consumer choice, market stability and economic growth.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Ten years ago, electric vehicles were a curiosity for many drivers. Today, they are a core part of the UK new car market, with unprecedented choice, longer battery range and growing consumer appetite. Massive manufacturer investment has delivered this progress, but continued government action to accelerate demand and support manufacturer investment is essential to keep the transition on track.”

The transition extends beyond cars, with zero emission commercial vehicle model choice increasing almost 15-fold over the decade – rising from just five in 2016 to more than 78 today. Electric van choice has grown almost eight times over, while electric buses have more than tripled – with the UK holding the title as Europe's biggest zero emission bus market.⁵ Zero emission heavy goods vehicles – absent from the market a decade ago – have now emerged with more than 40 models available, supporting Britain's journey to decarbonise road transport.

The scale and pace of this transformation will be on show today at SMMT's annual Test Day, where media will put the latest fully electric and electrified models, from cars and vans to trucks and buses, through their paces. Reflecting the growth in the wider market offering, seven in 10 vehicles available to test drive this year are electrified, while BEVs alone account for more than half – exemplifying the direction of travel for zero emission mobility in the UK.