More privately owned EVs were added to licensing statistics than in any previous quarter in the UK, according to analysis by The AA.
Department for Transport vehicle data show there were 860,334 privately owned battery-electric vehicles (BEV) on UK roads at the end of the first quarter of 2026.
The figures are an increase on the 271,382 on the same period last year, and by 83,136 from the end of 2025 – a rise of 10.7% in three months and the largest quarter-on-quarter increase on record.
The latest figures suggest private demand for EVs continues to strengthen, with greater model choice, improving battery technology and a buoyant used EV market.
The AA’s June EV Readiness Index also suggested that “range anxiety” is increasingly being replaced by “pump anxiety”.
Following the conflict in the Middle East, higher oil prices have driven up the cost of petrol and diesel, making the lower day-to-day running costs of electric vehicles an increasingly important consideration for many drivers.
Among the UK’s nations, Wales recorded the strongest annual growth in private EV ownership, increasing by 55.1% over the past year. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland all recorded annual growth of over 45%.
| Nation | Q1 2025 | Q1 2026 | Change | % Change |
| United Kingdom | 588,952 | 860,334 | +271,382 | 46.1% |
| Wales | 20,958 | 32,513 | +11,555 | 55.1% |
| England | 510,363 | 743,877 | +233,514 | 45.8% |
| Scotland | 49,288 | 71,600 | +22,312 | 45.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 8,109 | 11,774 | +3,665 | 45.2% |
The fastest-growing local authority in the UK was Blaenau Gwent, where private EV ownership increased by 84.8% over the year.
Within England, the East Midlands experienced the fastest growth in private EV ownership, with the total increasing by 58.8% over the year. The North West (58.4%), West Midlands (57.1%), North East (56.5%) and Yorkshire and The Humber (55.9%) all posted growth well above the national average.
By contrast, London’s increase of 22.7% was the lowest of any English region, reflecting its position as one of the country’s earliest adopters of electric vehicles.
| English region | Q1 2025 | Q1 2026 | Change | % Change |
| East Midlands | 44,822 | 71,184 | +26,362 | 58.8% |
| North West | 57,320 | 90,790 | +33,470 | 58.4% |
| West Midlands | 45,699 | 71,807 | +26,108 | 57.1% |
| North East | 19,808 | 30,993 | +11,185 | 56.5% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 42,840 | 66,802 | +23,962 | 55.9% |
| East of England | 64,710 | 93,809 | +29,099 | 45.0% |
| South West | 53,829 | 77,250 | +23,421 | 43.5% |
| South East | 109,268 | 152,785 | +43,517 | 39.8% |
| London | 72,067 | 88,457 | +16,390 | 22.7% |
Edmund King, AA President, said:
“Private ownership of electric cars continues to move from strength to strength. More than 83,000 additional privately owned electric cars were added in just three months, showing that more drivers are making the switch to electric motoring.
“It’s also encouraging to see where that growth is taking place. The strongest increases are no longer confined to the areas that embraced electric cars first. Wales led all four UK nations for annual growth, while the East Midlands topped the English regional table, with strong performances right across the Midlands and the North.
“The continued expansion of the used EV market is helping to bring electric motoring within reach of many more households. This may be due to drivers feeling higher fuel prices following the conflict in the Middle East which have reminded many just how expensive petrol and diesel can become, making the long-term running costs of an EV even more attractive.
“There is still more work to do on charging infrastructure, particularly for those 40% of households without any dedicated off-street parking”
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
