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• EV choice doubles in three years, with more than 170 fully electric models now available to UK buyers.
• Latest BEVs can travel an average 300 miles on a single charge – more than twice the typical UK driver’s weekly mileage.
• Three quarters of new car models now zero emission-capable, helping cut new car CO₂ by more than half a million tonnes a year. 

British drivers are being offered more electric car choice than ever, with manufacturers launching the equivalent of one fully electric model every fortnight for the past three years, according to new research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (91ÖÆƬ³§¹ÙÍø).

85 new battery electric (BEV) car models have reached the UK market since 2023 – doubling the number available to 171.¹ They sit alongside 109 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and 52 hybrid electric (HEV) models, meaning three quarters (76%) of the UK’s market offering is now capable of driving without tailpipe emissions.² The breadth of choice is the result of sustained investment by manufacturers, with new vehicles typically taking between three to five years to develop and bring to market.

UK new car buyers can choose from some 385 models across every powertrain and from more than 60 global brands. It makes Britain one of the world’s most diverse and competitive car markets, with options to suit every budget, lifestyle and driving need. Electric cars are now available in every segment – from compact city cars and family hatchbacks to executive saloons, SUVs and sports cars – while strong manufacturer discounts and the Government’s Electric Car Grant are helping to make the switch more affordable.

The expansion in choice reflects the automotive sector’s leadership in the UK’s transition to zero emission driving. Manufacturers are investing billions in new technologies, battery development, vehicle platforms and production facilities, bringing increasingly sophisticated cars to market with greater efficiency, performance and range. Full EVs are now typically able to travel more than 300 miles on a single charge, well above the 127 miles driven weekly by the average UK driver.³

That investment is also delivering for the environment, with the rapid rollout of battery electric cars alongside advances across hybrid and conventional engine technologies, helping to cut new car CO₂ emissions by more than half a million tonnes a year.⁴

Part of the UK’s EV choice will be on show today at SMMTDrive Live, where media will put the very latest car models through their paces. Reflecting the industry’s direction of travel, BEVs account for almost seven in 10 of the vehicles available to test drive this year.  

Notes to editors

1. Based on 86 models in August 2023 compared with 171 models in August 2026
2. ‘Availability’ defined as badge name i.e. when a model is available in multiple powertrains, it is counted as one model for grand total purposes.
3. Source: Department for Transport National Travel Survey, vehicle mileage statistics (annual mileage converted to weekly average
4. 505,130 tonnes, based on average CO₂ in 2025 compared with 2023, average mileage of 7,500pa, and 2,020,520 registrations in 2025.