Electric vehicle adoption in the United Kingdom continued to gain momentum in August, with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) capturing 26.8% of new car registrations, according to data from New AutoMotive.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) also contributed to the growth, bringing the total share of electrified vehicles to 38.8% of new registrations for the month. The figures mark progress toward the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, with year-to-date BEV registrations of 21.9% exceeding the 21.8% implied target.
The commercial sector showed significant uptake as well, with electric van registrations nearly doubling compared with August 2024. This increase pushed electric vans to an 11.9% market share, indicating that businesses are increasingly turning to electrified fleets to reduce running costs.
Corrin Reilly, data analyst at New AutoMotive, highlighted the trend, saying, “August’s figures saw electric cars win the race for second place, beating out petrol cars for the first time in 2025 with a 26.8% market share, and falling just shy of taking first place from HEVs at 29.3%. More than 1 in 3 of all new cars registered had a plug, with PHEV car registrations rising by more than 80%.”
Industry experts noted that government incentives and improved charging infrastructure continue to support the shift to electric mobility. The data also indicated that while adoption is increasing, some manufacturers remain behind in integrating EVs across their ranges.
The August figures reinforce the overall trend toward electrification in the UK market, reflecting both consumer interest and the impact of policy measures designed to accelerate the transition from petrol and diesel vehicles.
