The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) market has continued to grow in May with new battery electric car (BEV) registrations growing by 28% compared to the same month last year.
According to the latest data from New AutoMotive, a total of 31,519 new electric cars were registered in May, capturing 21.9% of the total car market.
Year-to-date figures reveal some 175,165 BEVs registered in the first five months of 2025 – a 29% increase on the same period in 2024. This brings the market share for electric cars to nearly 21% for the year so far.
Despite the positive figures, this is still below the 28% of sales for 2025 required by the ZEV Mandate, and is just below the 22% that was designated for last year.
The electric van sector demonstrated especially strong growth, with year-to-date registrations for battery electric vans up by 41%, reaching 9,776 units and a market share of 7.9%.
It comes as petrol car sales fell by 23.6% in May, while diesel sales dropped by 1.9% compared to May 2024, accounting for just 5.6% of the market.
Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, said:
“May’s figures are a clear indicator that the UK’s journey to electric mobility is not just on track, but accelerating. A 28% surge in electric car registrations, and nearly one in five new cars being electric year-to-date, shows that consumers are increasingly choosing the cleaner, cheaper, and better driving experience that EVs offer.
“The ZEV mandate is clearly working, encouraging manufacturers to bring more electric models to the market and making it easier for drivers to make the switch.
“The strong growth in the electric van sector is also incredibly encouraging, as businesses reap the rewards of lower running costs and reduced emissions. This sustained momentum is vital for achieving the UK’s net-zero ambitions and improving air quality across the country.”
Fiona Howarth, Founder of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said:
“We’ve seen yet another strong month for EVs – proving that people want to drive electric. There has been a clear shift in the market, with car manufacturers new and old bringing out new, cheaper models every month – improving driver choice and helping to make the switch to cleaner, low cost driving.”
Simon Smith, Chief Commercial Officer InstaVolt, said:
“Another solid month of EV uptake in the UK – making the country the flagbearer. The UK is also the role model for how private businesses can roll out a world class charging infrastructure, just like our Winchester Superhub. What’s important now is to continue to deliver what customers want, and make the experience easier than ever to tap, charge and go.”
John Lewis, CEO, char.gy, said:
“With BEVs now making up 22% of all car sales in the UK, we’re proud to see the UK establishing itself as one of Europe’s leaders in the EV transition. But to keep pace, CPOs must be just as ambitious. Imagine the numbers if everyone had access to affordable, convenient charging.”
Dan Caesar, CEO, EVUK, said:
“Another solid, if not spectacular, month for the sales of battery EVs. BEVs now regularly account for 1 in 5 new car sales, but what can be done to move the needle to 1 in 4 and then to 1 in 3 as we’ve seen in numerous other European markets? While the UK was the biggest BEV market (by volume) in Europe in 2024, we can ill afford to rest on our laurels, and ambitious automakers will expect to see an overarching strategy that accelerates growth in short order.”
Quentin Willson, Founder FairCharge, said:
“Another strong month of EV sales with a 22% share shows that demand continues to be solid, despite media narratives to the contrary. The U.K. is now a European leader in electric car sales, and EV thought leadership but more needs to be done by government and car makers to drive demand and continue growing adoption, particularly among private buyers.”
Image from Shutterstock
