UK hits electric car milestone as EV numbers pass two million due to Labour grants

Hemma Visavadia
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:15:13 +0000

The UK's switch to electric vehicles has reached a major milestone, with more than two million electric vehicles now registered across the UK, according to new figures.

The data showed that over 100,000 drivers have now used the Government's Electric Car Grant, which offers discounts of up to £3,750 off the cost of a new electric vehicle, helping to make EVs more affordable and accelerating the shift away from petrol and diesel cars.

Officials explained that the combination of falling prices, wider model choice, and expanding charging infrastructure is pushing record levels of demand, with March 2026 marking the strongest month for EV sales on record.

The Department for Transport explained that EV registrations are now up around 15 per cent compared with last year, signalling what it describes as a "landmark moment" in the UK's transition to cleaner transport.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the figures showed the scale of change already underway across the UK, as more drivers discover the benefits of electric vehicles.

She said: "Today, over two million EVs are now registered across the UK, a landmark moment in the UK's transition to electric."

She added that Government support has been central to this shift, pointing to the Electric Car Grant and wider investment in infrastructure.

According to Ms Alexander, more than 100,000 drivers have already benefited from the scheme, which has helped cut thousands off the upfront cost of electric cars.

She also highlighted the Government's wider £7.5billion investment programme to support the transition, alongside £600million committed to expanding the UK's charging network.

"We've made it cheaper and easier than ever to buy an EV," she said, adding that investment is helping deliver "hundreds of thousands of additional chargers" across the country.

There are currently more than 119,000 public charge points in the UK, which officials say is roughly double the number of petrol pumps.

The Government argued that improved infrastructure is helping remove one of the biggest concerns for drivers considering switching to electric.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

MOT warning issued to EV drivers as major gap in pass rates prompts safety concern

Drivers risk £2,500 fines for trusting wrong speed limits as sat nav usage spreads across UK

Driving law changes you missed in April - Major car tax hikes, car finance updates and more

Industry experts explained the milestone reflects a broader transformation in the car market.

Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, said reaching two million EVs is "a significant milestone" and credited Government support for helping early adoption.

But she also said growth is being driven by the wider market. "This growth has also been driven by huge investment from the charging industry and car makers," she said, pointing to "a wave of genuinely compelling electric cars with longer range, faster charging and broader choice than ever before."

She added that this combination of better products and stronger infrastructure is what is "accelerating adoption" among mainstream drivers.

Meanwhile, Tanya Sinclair, chief executive of Electric Vehicles UK, said the figures show what happens when the market and policy align.

"Two million electric vehicles in the UK shows that if the market offers choice, value and availability, drivers will snap it up," she said.

She said the Electric Car Grant has helped more than 100,000 people switch sooner than they otherwise might have done, and urged the Government to continue building on current policies.

"If it does, the market and the next two million EVs will follow," she added.

Recent analysis from industry pricing data has also suggested that electric cars are now, on average, cheaper to buy than petrol models for the first time, once discounts and incentives are included.

The Government detailed how EV drivers can also save up to £1,400 a year in running costs, particularly when charging at home using cheaper electricity rates.

Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer for EVA England, said: "Two million EVs is a huge milestone and shows what's possible when the right incentives are in place.

"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."