The number of electric vehicles (EVs) registered on UK roads has surpassed two million for the first time.

Latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 2,012,000 zero emission vehicles were licensed for use in the UK as of the end of December 2025, an increase of 31.2% on the year before. This represents 4.8% of all licensed vehicles, with 1,874,000 being road using. 

There were 473,000 zero emission cars registered for the first time in 2025, an increase of 24% from 2024. Zero emission cars also accounted for 23% of all new car registrations, compared to 19% in 2024.

These uplifts are driven by manufacturer discounting and government incentives, including the  Electric Car Grant (ECG), which was launched in July 2025 to help drivers with the upfront costs of purchasing an EV. It provides a saving of £1,500 or £3,750 off the purchase price of a new EV, with the DfT claiming that more than 100,000 drivers have already benefited from this scheme. 

Heidi Alexander, secretary of state for transport, said: “Today, over two million EVs are now registered across the UK – a key moment in the UK’s transition to electric, backed by £7.5bn 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. We’re also investing £600m 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.”

Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, the electric car buying and advice site, said: “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. 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.”

According to the the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the number of electric cars in the UK is already up 15% on last year, with March 2026 seeing the highest demand ever recorded.

Included in the top five EVs sold under the Electric Car Grant were the Ford Puma Gen-E, Vauxhall Frontera Electric, Renault 5, Skoda Elroq and Volkswagen ID.3.

At the end of March 2026, Autotrader, an online marketplace for buying and selling cars, reported a sharp increase in enquiries for both new and used EVs since the Iran war began at the end of February. According to its data, used EVs are now taking 19.5% of all 0 to five-year used car enquiries – the highest share on record, with new daily records being set. For context, EVs make up around 5% of all cars on the road.  

Last month, the government announced plans to cut red tape and make it easier to install on-street EV chargers and cross-pavement charging solutions. This means that home owners will be able to take advantage of cheaper overnight domestic tariffs, rather than relying solely on more expensive public charging.