The UK has surpassed one million electric vehicles on its roads, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
A record 41,964,268 vehicles were registered in 2024, up 1.4% from the previous year. Cars accounted for 36,165,401 of these registrations, representing a 1.3% increase. EV numbers reached 1.3 million – a dramatic 38.9% jump year-on-year.
Several factors have driven this growth in EV adoption. The UK has expanded its charging infrastructure while manufacturers have offered discounts across their electric lineups. Money-saving home charging tariffs and employer salary sacrifice schemes have also contributed.
Nearly 60% of EVs are registered to businesses, according to SMMT data. This shift to electric has reduced average car CO2 emissions by 1.6%, with company car emissions dropping by 5.6%.
Drivers are keeping their vehicles longer than ever before. The average car age now stands at 9.5 years – up from 9.3 years in 2023 and significantly higher than the 8-year average recorded in 2019.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, noted: “Britain’s vehicle parc is growing, providing essential mobility for the nation while reducing its environmental impact.”
“However, there is scope to push environmental improvements much faster as motorists are holding onto their cars for longer, some one and half years longer on average, than only five years ago. Drivers need more incentives and greater confidence in infrastructure investment if we are to replace the high volumes of older high-emission cars with zero-emission alternatives.”
“Success will keep the country on the move while driving up economic growth from every business dependent on road transport.”
The transition to electric appears to be creating satisfied drivers. A global EV survey published by the Global EV Alliance late last year found that 92% of EV drivers would not return to petrol or diesel vehicles after experiencing electric motoring.
