Over 2m EVs now registered on UK roads in ‘landmark moment’
There are now 2,012,000 fully electric vehicles registered on UK roads, according to new figures published by the Department for Transport.
The figures show that the Electric Car Grant (ECG) has been key in reaching this ‘landmark moment’. Following its introduction in July 2025, the ECG has assisted more than 100,000 drivers nationwide save from £1,500 to £3,750 on selected EVs priced up to £37,000.
At present, the UK’s top five best-selling EVs under the ECG are the Ford Puma Gen-E, Vauxhall Frontera Electric, Renault 5, Skoda Elroq, and the Volkswagen ID.3.
EV registrations are up 15% on 2025, with March 2026 seeing the highest demand for electric-only vehicles ever recorded. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) show that since the start of this year, 137,614 electric cars and 6,673 electric vans have been registered.
SMMT’s data also showed that EVs now make up 22.4% of the UK’s new car market, a 1.7% jump from last year. Moreover, AutoTrader found that EVs are, on average, now cheaper to buy than their internal combustion-engined counterparts.
Beyond the ECG
These latest registration figures were partially driven by initiatives such as the Electric Car Grant and other in-house discounts offered by manufacturers who do not qualify. Another reason for the UK’s increased appetite for EVs is the UK Government’s £7.5 billion investment into electrification, as well as increasing fuel prices on the back of the Iran War.
Besides expanding the public charging network, the Government’s EV war-chest allows renters, landlords, and businesses to claim up to £500 off an EV home charger, which covers around half the installation costs. In theory, this means EV drivers can save up to £1,400 annually on running costs compared to a petrol or diesel car, if they use a dedicated EV home charging tariff.
What the experts say
On the back of these numbers, Heidi Alexander, the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, said: “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.”
Tanya Sinclair, the CEO of EV lobbyist group, Electric Vehicles UK, added: “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.”
