More than two million electric vehicles (EV) have been registered across the UK, according to new Department for Transport statistics.
The figures show that the Electric Car Grant (ECG) has assisted more than 100,000 drivers save up to £3750 off a new EV.
EV registrations are up 15% on last year, with March 2026 seeing the highest demand ever recorded.
Electric cars are now cheaper to buy, on average, than petrol models for the first time, according to recent figures from Autotrader.
The UK Government said it is also investing £7.5 billion to support businesses in the transition to EVs, and there has “never been a better time to switch” due to the ECG, it added.
Included in the top 5 EVs sold under the ECG were the Ford Puma Gen-E, Vauxhall Frontera Electric, Renault 5, Skoda Elroq and Volkswagen ID.3.
The UK Government also added that 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.
Heidi Alexander, 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.”
Ginny Buckley, the 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.”
Tanya Sinclair, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK, said:
“Two million electric vehicles in the UK shows that if the market offers choice, value and availability, drivers will snap it up. Policies and incentives all need to point drivers towards EVs too, which is why the Electric Car Grant has put 100,000 more people behind the wheel, who might otherwise have waited.
“It is now more important than ever for government to build on these foundations with cohesive policy. If it does, the market and the next two million EVs will follow.”
Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer for EVA England, said:
“2 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.”
Jarrod Birch, head of policy and public affairs, ChargeUK said:
“Two million EVs and counting, cheaper vehicles and attractive running costs, even using public charging thanks to surging petrol prices. It could not be clearer that now is the time for government to hit the accelerator pedal on the EV transition, not hit the brake by watering down manufacturers’ sales quotas.
“It can do so by fixing the policy issues pushing up public charging costs, ensuring millions more can make the switch and get off the fossil fuel price rollercoaster.”
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
