UK battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales rose by 44.5pc in July to claim a record 27.5pc market share, as overall new car sales climbed by 11.7pc, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) data.
The figures extend a run of strong EV growth and raise questions about whether the market is still lagging government targets to the extent often claimed. BEVs accounted for 25.3pc of sales in January-July and 27.5pc in July, while petrol and diesel-powered car sales continued to lose ground (see graph).
SMMT said BEV sales remain below this year's headline 33pc zero-emission vehicle target, and it forecasts a 27.4pc full-year showing. But manufacturers are not aiming for 33pc because the system includes credits and other flexibilities that reduce the effective compliance level, according to Stuart Masson, founder of consumer website The Car Expert. The current share is already broadly in line with the level many brands need to achieve, he said.
That suggests carmakers already on track for compliance have little incentive to keep pushing sales through additional discounting, particularly with tougher targets ahead next year, Masson said.
The interpretation plays down other warnings that EV growth still relies heavily on incentives and manufacturer support, despite repeated increases in sales.
A weak showing in July 2025 inflated last month's annual growth rate after uncertainty over Electric Car Grant eligibility delayed purchases.
But recent months have delivered strong EV growth, suggesting the trend extends beyond grant-related distortions.
Private sales rose by 12.6pc, outpacing commercial fleet growth of 9.5pc. Fleet buyers still accounted for almost 60pc of the market, but the stronger private performance may indicate that EV demand is gradually broadening beyond company car schemes and salary-sacrifice programmes.
Plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales rose strongly, too. Combined BEV and PHEV sales accounted for more than 42pc of the market, continuing a pattern this year as buyers move away from pure combustion vehicles, while some still hedge against concerns over charging costs and infrastructure.
