Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in the UK continued their upward trajectory in May, increasing by 25.5% year-on-year and reaching a 21.8% market share, according to the latest data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Despite the growth, the BEV sector is still falling short of the UK government’s 2025 target of 28%, with the current outlook projecting a full-year share of 20.9%.
The overall new car market also posted modest growth, with registrations rising 1.6% to 150,070 units. Analysts attribute the strong BEV performance to consumer incentives and improved public confidence in the charging infrastructure.
“Significant discount on electric and hybrid vehicles combined with growing confidence in the EV charging network were enough to offset any negative impact of the expensive car supplement which kicked in on electric vehicles in April,” said Sheena McGuinness, Co-head of Energy and Natural Resources at RSM UK.
However, McGuinness cautioned that current BEV adoption levels remain seven percentage points below the mandated target for 2025. “More needs to be done to encourage consumers to switch, but adding circa £2k to the cost of EVs due to the exemption lifting may price some out of the market,” she said, referring to the April end of certain vehicle tax exemptions.
The UK government pledged £200 million in its Autumn Budget to improve EV charging infrastructure, focusing primarily on expensive high-speed chargers. While these fast chargers—costing approximately £100,000 each—are in high demand among drivers, the funding would cover only around 2,000 units. This equates to one charger for every 20,000 registered UK drivers, raising concerns about the adequacy of support for mass EV adoption.
“We also need to see more investment in the infrastructure charging network,” McGuinness added. “A 4% increase in public charging devices at the start of the year is encouraging, but an accelerated programme of investment is needed to drive real change.”
McGuinness also suggested that further measures, such as temporarily exempting EVs from VAT and increasing support for public charging, could ease consumer transitions. “As 40% of homes do not have access to a driveway and are reliant on public charge points, making VAT exempt on the sale of new EV cars could be a helpful move,” she said.