Experts have praised the accelerated uptake of electric cars as new data shows that sales of zero emission vehicles continue to flourish.
Fresh licensing statistics from the Department for Transport show that 769,000 new vehicles were registered between January and March this year.
This is an impressive 5.1 per cent increase compared to the same time last year, as drivers use their spending power to get behind the wheel of a new vehicle.
Of these, 150,000 were zero emission vehicles, marking a jump of almost 13 per cent, with 146,000 of these already on the road.
In total, 138,000 zero emission cars were registered for the first time, with 2026 seeing 14.5 per cent more EVs sold than in 2025.
Motorists have embraced electric vehicles more than ever over the last 18 months, with EVs routinely capturing a market share of 25 per cent.
While hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales have increased, drivers are turning their backs on petrol and diesel vehicles at an increasing rate.
Data from June shows that year-on-year sales of petrol cars have fallen by four per cent, while diesel has plummeted by 24.4 per cent.
New licensing data shows that electric cars continue to grow in popularity
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At the opposite end of the spectrum, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that electric car registrations have jumped 35 per cent compared to last June.
Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of roads policy, noted that the “onward march” of electric vehicles had been supported by soaring petrol and diesel prices.
Motorists are currently paying 151.4p per litre for petrol, while diesel drivers are forking out 165.2p at the pumps.
Mr Cousens said drivers had gained confidence in electric cars as they could avoid the “enduring trauma of the petrol and diesel cost rollercoaster”.
AA Cars has seen a huge spike in second-hand electric vehicle views as petrol prices soar | AA CARS
He added: “This year, car owners who can afford to switch to electric cars have said ‘enough is enough’ and converted to power from the grid over petrol from the forecourt.
“The AA EV Readiness Index showed that even those with less money available have been looking at ways to switch more cheaply.”
The AA Cars platform has seen searches for second-hand electric vehicles surge by 78 per cent in the last three months compared to the previous three months.
At the end of March 2026, zero emission vehicles accounted for just over five per cent of all licensed vehicles, with 2.15 million EVs on the road.
Previous reports suggested that the Government was considering changing ZEV mandate targets
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PAManufacturers are offering electric vehicles at an increased rate, with more than 160 zero emission vehicles now on the market from the most popular brands around the world.
The Zero Emission Vehicle mandate requires manufacturers to have a minimum percentage of sales come from electric vehicles, including a 33 per cent target by the end of the year.
Targets will rise every year, reaching 80 per cent by the end of the decade and 100 per cent in 2035, when all sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines will be restricted.
Reports have suggested that the Government was planning to amend the targets of the ZEV mandate to a 50 per cent goal by 2030, although these have not been confirmed.