- Britain's EV revolution reaches a landmark milestone with two
million - and counting - electric vehicles registered across the
UK, as revealed in new
statistics released today (Wednesday 29 April).
- Boosted by the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG), which
has now helped over 100,000 drivers save up to £3750 off a
new EV, the number of electric cars in the UK is up 15% 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 is breaking 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% in the six months from when the
Electric Car Grant launched in July 2025.
- 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.
- There's never been a better time to switch to electric, and
the ECG is helping to boost sales for manufacturers, powering up
growth and supporting jobs across the country.
- We're also delivering the infrastructure needed to support
the uptake in EVs, having announced £600m just last year to
rollout hundreds of thousands more chargers, building on the over
119,000 already available; that's 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.
, Secretary of State for
Transport, said:
“Today, over two million EVs are now registered across the UK - a
landmark moment in the UK's transition to electric, backed by
£7.5 billion in government funding. 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.”