UK EV Sales Top 516,490, Overtaking Petrol Cars for First Time
Updated
Updated · Positive.News · Jun 26
UK EV Sales Top 516,490, Overtaking Petrol Cars for First Time
3 articles · Updated · Positive.News · Jun 26
Summary
516,490 new EVs were sold in the UK in the year to May 2026, edging past 504,010 new petrol cars in the first such crossover.
Carbon Brief said the milestone reflects steady growth in EV demand, undercutting motor industry claims that buyers are not there as a dispute over the zero-emission vehicle mandate continues.
That mandate requires an increasing share of new car sales to be zero-emission each year, making the sales shift a key data point in the policy fight.
Separate Carbon Brief research found UK EV drivers save about £1,100 a year on fuel versus petrol cars, reinforcing the economic case as the market expands.
With EVs outselling petrol cars, is the $10 trillion green economy a genuine revolution or a profitable trend for the few?
England has delayed diabetes and curbed cancer. When will these life-saving breakthroughs reach the rest of the world?
Are beaver dams and rewilding more powerful climate solutions than our most advanced green technology?
UK Electric Vehicle Sales Set to Surpass Petrol by 2027: Market Dynamics, Policy Gaps, and the Road to Net Zero
Overview
In May 2026, Britain's new car market saw strong growth, with buyers attracted by a wider range of vehicles and a 24% year-on-year rise in sales. However, despite this momentum, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have not yet surpassed petrol cars in annual sales. The transition to EVs is progressing more slowly than expected, mainly due to high energy, production, and charging costs, as well as market uncertainty from geopolitical events. As a result, consumer uptake of EVs continues to lag behind targets, highlighting the need for strategies that better align with current market realities.