EV charger being placed in a black car's EV charging socket.

Nearly 1 in 3 new cars sold in the UK are fully electric

Consumer Editor

4 minute read|7th Jul 2026

Almost one third of new cars are fully electric, according to the latest industry data.

The figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that pure electric cars - officially known as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) - accounted one in three new cars registered in June, hitting a 30% market share.

This is the highest monthly level of 2026 so far and a sharp rise from the 20% market share BEVs had in January. The UK’s new car market has grown by 9% this year, with 1,137,959 new cars registered between January and June 2026.

Growth in June was driven by electrified models, with plug-in hybrids accounting for 12% of registrations and conventional hybrids making up 14%.

Petrol was the most popular fuel type for new cars in June, accounting for 40% of all registrations. The market share for diesel was less than 4%.

Tesla was the standout performer in June, with the Model Y and Model 3 topping the UK's best-selling EV charts for June.

The Model Y sold 6,765 units last month, followed by 5,408 Model 3’s.

In third place was the Ford Puma, which also comes with a pure EV model – the Puma Gen-E.

Also in the top 10 for June was the MINI Cooper, which also comes with a BEV model.

The other top sellers do not have a BEV version but do have hybrid or PHEV models.

Petrol and diesel prices remain at an elevated level. RAC Fuel Watch data shows average petrol prices climbed from 135.29p per litre on January 1^st 2026 to 151.40p per litre on June 30^th, an increase of 16.11p.

Diesel prices rose even more sharply, from 144.18p to 167.14p per litre in the same time period. This signifies a jump of 22.96p per litre at the pumps.

With fuel prices so high, there’s a very good reason to make the switch EVs. But it remains the case that those who can’t charge at home, or who regularly drive beyond the range of their EV, are still paying a significant premium at public chargers. A sensible next step to further increase uptake would be to reduce VAT at public chargers, to match the rate levied on domestic electricity.

Rod Dennis

RAC senior policy officer

RAC patrol man in orange helping a family at the roadside next to a orange van with flashing lights.

RAC SALE – up to 40% off*

Roadside cover from £5.29 a month^†

Cheaper than AA Price Promise or we'll beat it by 20%^{^}
With over 1,700 RAC mechanics nationwide, help is never far away
Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns

Start my quote

^*T&Cs apply. ^†At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). ^{^}Find the same cover cheaper with the AA within 7 days & we'll beat it by 20%.