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Electric vehicles are accelerating ahead of diesel vehicles

As of the end of October 2025, there were 2,695,066 plug-in cars, with over 1,747,000 battery-electric cars and over 948,000 PHEVs, registered in the UK.

Chinese firm CATL produces electric vehicle batteries for major brands including Volkswagen, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and BMW
Chinese firm CATL produces electric vehicle batteries for major brands including Volkswagen, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and BMW - Copyright AFP/File FABIAN BIMMER
Chinese firm CATL produces electric vehicle batteries for major brands including Volkswagen, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and BMW - Copyright AFP/File FABIAN BIMMER

As of the end of October 2025, there are over 1,700,000 fully electric cars in the UK. This means that around 5.09% of the circa 34 million cars on UK roads are fully electric.

EVs, in the UK, account for more car sales than diesels. So far during 2025, 386,244 new fully electric cars have been sold, which is 22.4% market share of all new cars registered this year

This is in stark contrast to August 2024, when EVs made up just 10% of all sales and diesels accounted for 19%. These data come from the car firm cinch. The new data shows that 16% of cinch’s total sales in August 2025 were electric cars, while diesels accounted for 13%.

Abhishek Sampat, head of electric vehicles at cinch, explains: “EVs used to be a relatively niche choice in the used car market, but not anymore. One in every six cars we sell is now an EV, and the uptake is growing each month. We sold 66 different EV models in August – up from 47 during the same period in 2024. The variety of vehicles now available – from family-friendly SUVs to small, affordable hatchbacks – is being driven by consumer demand.”

Top-selling EVs so far in 2025

The Tesla Model 3 takes top spot, followed by one of the most recognisable EVs on Britain’s streets: Nissan’s LEAF.

  1. Tesla Model 3
  2. Nissan LEAF
  3. MINI Hatchback
  4. Vauxhall Corsa-E
  5. Kia e-Niro
  6. Volkswagen ID.3
  7. Hyundai Kona
  8. Renault ZOE
  9. Vauxhall Mokka-e
  10. Jaguar I-Pace

Fast-movers

In August 2025, EVs sold at a rate 43% faster than diesels and 29% faster than petrol cars on cinch. 

Top 10 fastest-selling EVs on cinch (Jan-Aug 2025)

  1. Škoda Enyaq IV
  2. Renault ZOE
  3. MG ZS EV
  4. Citroën ë-C4
  5. Hyundai Kona
  6. Kia e-Niro
  7. MINI Hatchback
  8. Peugeot E-2008
  9. Tesla Model Y
  10. Tesla Model 3

More choice?

The emergence of new brands such as BYD and OMODA, coupled with more traditional brands pivoting production to electric, means a healthy level of price competition between manufacturers in new cars.

Despite increased levels of inflation during the last 12 months, the average price of an EV on cinch fell by 3% – to just under £16,000. The cheapest EV sold on cinch in August 2025 was a £7,000 Smart Forfour, while the most expensive was a Porsche Taycan at just over £51,000.

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Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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