Battery electric vehicles took a 27.3% share of the UK new car market in May 2026, with registrations up 34.2% year on year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on 5 June 20261. The SMMT described it as the highest monthly share for battery electric cars in 2026 so far1.
The wider new car market recorded its strongest May since 2019, with registrations up 7.1%1. Plug-in hybrids also grew, posting a 23.9% rise1. The SMMT said more than 160 battery electric models are now available across all segments and price points, many supported by the government's Electric Car Grant1. Full monthly and annual figures are set out in the UK electric vehicle registration statistics.
The SMMT cautioned that the monthly figure does not reflect the year as a whole. Battery electric vehicles account for 23.9% of registrations so far in 2026, against the 33% required by the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate1. The SMMT said the gap shows how much of the transition still depends on government and manufacturer incentives, with billions in discounting continuing while consumer demand lags ambition1.
| Measure | May 2026 | Year to date 2026 | Mandated target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery electric cars, market share | 27.3% | 23.9% | 33% |
| Battery electric vans, market share | 9.8% | Not reported | 24% for 2026 |
Battery electric van uptake rose 35.5% to a 9.8% market share, which the SMMT said remains far below the 24% mandated target for 2026 and below the previous month's share1. Overall van registrations rose 3.6%, a second successive month of growth, with demand for large vans offsetting declines elsewhere, including a fall in pick-ups following tax changes1. The SMMT attributed slower fleet uptake to higher upfront costs, energy prices and charging constraints1.
"But progress should not be mistaken for mission accomplished. So far this year, BEVs still account for just 23.9% of registrations, well below the 33% dictated by the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate"
The SMMT also pointed to the government's Seventh Carbon Budget, which envisages electric cars and vans making up around 95% of new sales by 2030, against the ZEV Mandate's 80% target for cars and 70% for vans1. It called for a holistic review of the EV transition1.
Why it matters for households
The share of new cars that are electric affects households indirectly, through the supply of used electric vehicles in later years and through the charging infrastructure that grows with the fleet. A rising monthly share indicates more electric cars entering the parc; the year-to-date figure of 23.9% indicates the pace remains below the level the mandate sets1.
For homes, the practical questions around charging are separate from the registration figures. The rules covering home charge points sold in the UK are set out under the Smart Charge Point Regulations, and grants for certain households are covered in the guide to the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for renters and flat owners. The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme is closed. Charging that allows a car to send power back to a home or the grid is covered under vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home charging, and device numbers are tracked in the electric vehicle charging device statistics.
The SMMT's figures cover registrations only. They do not report charging costs, installation rates or household charging behaviour, and no such figures appear in the announcement1.
What happens next
The SMMT said the ZEV Mandate targets become dramatically tougher next year and beyond, and that a holistic review of the EV transition is needed1. No date has been reported for such a review, and no government response to the May figures has been reported1.