The number of electric vehicles registered on UK roads has passed two million for the first time, according to new Department for Transport (DfT) figures.
The DfT said 2,012,000 zero emission vehicles were licensed in the UK at the end of December 2025, up 31.2% year-on-year. Of these, 1,874,000 were classed as road using vehicles, while zero emission vehicles accounted for 4.8% of all licensed vehicles.1
The milestone comes amid continued growth in new electric vehicle registrations. In 2025, 528,000 zero emission vehicles were registered for the first time, up 24% on 2024, including 473,000 zero emission cars.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander 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.”2
The government linked the rise to its Electric Car Grant, launched in July 2025, which it said has helped more than 100,000 drivers save up to £3,750 on selected new EVs.2
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.”3
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, 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.”4
Industry data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) also points to rapid growth in the battery electric car market, with April 2026 seeing the two millionth battery electric car registered since 2002.5
References
[1] Department for Transport, “Vehicle licensing statistics, United Kingdom: 2025”, published 29 April 2026.
[2] Department for Transport press release, “2 million EVs registered across the UK and 100,000 drivers using ECG”, 29 April 2026.
[3] “UK Government announces 2 million EVs registered across the UK and 100,000 drivers using ECG”, Renewable Energy Magazine, 29 April 2026
[4] “EV sales still increasing as UK hits two million electric cars sold”, https://www.electrifying.com, 5 May 2026.
[5] Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, “Two millionth electric car registered as market rebounds strongly from tax changes”, 5 May 2026.