UK EV OWNERS CLUB # The UK’s Electric Revolution Is Accelerating — Here’s Everything You Need to Know*Record registrations, a revamped grant scheme, improved charging infrastructure, and an extraordinary wave of new models. Summer 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark moment for EV owners in the UK.*Published 3 June 2026 · UK EV Owners Club Editorial Team—## 01 — Market Growth: Records Keep FallingThe UK electric vehicle market is delivering numbers that would have seemed extraordinary just a few years ago. March 2026 set an all-time record for new EV registrations, and the momentum shows no sign of slowing through the summer.- 86,120 new EVs registered in March 2026 — a UK record- 24.2% year-on-year increase vs March 2025- 22.4% share of all new car sales in 2026 to date- 2 million+ fully electric cars now on UK roadsElectric cars now account for 22.4% of new car sales in 2026 — up from 20.7% the previous year — meaning EVs are more popular than hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and diesel cars combined in the new car market. The used EV sector is equally buoyant: a record 86,943 used battery electric cars were sold in Q1 2026, a 32% increase on Q1 2025.—## 02 — The Electric Car Grant: What You Can Claim Right NowThe government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) — relaunched in mid-2025 after the original plug-in car grant was axed in 2022 — remains one of the most significant incentives available to UK buyers. Launched with a £650 million budget and bolstered by a further £1.3 billion in the 2025 Autumn Budget, the scheme is funded to run until 2030.The grant applies automatically at the point of sale — no separate application required. It offers up to £3,750 off eligible new EVs priced at £37,000 or below, operated by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).**Grant Bands at a Glance:**- Band 1 (maximum): £3,750 — for EVs priced ≤ £37,000- Band 2: £2,500 — for EVs priced ≤ £37,000- Manufacturer match schemes: up to £3,750 depending on brandSeveral manufacturers — including Volvo, Hyundai, and Alfa Romeo — have introduced their own matching discount schemes as a bridging measure while formal ECG approval is awaited. Models including the Ford Puma Gen-E and Ford E-Tourneo Courier are among those currently eligible for the maximum Band 1 grant. The eligibility list is evolving rapidly, so always check the latest before committing to a purchase.—## 03 — Charging Infrastructure: Growing Faster Than EverRange anxiety is becoming an increasingly outdated concern as the UK’s charging network expands at pace.- 92,141 EV chargers in operation as of March 2026- Up 12% compared to March 2025- Ultra-rapid chargers (150kW+) up 40% vs January 2025- 12,921 ultra-rapid chargers now installed nationwideThe ultra-rapid charging category is growing particularly quickly. The three largest rapid and ultra-rapid networks — MFG EV Power, Osprey, and BP Pulse — account for a combined 7,877 high-speed charging points across the country.**Chargepoint Grant Update:** From 1 April 2026, the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant increased from £350 to £500 per socket — a 40%-plus uplift — covering home, workplace, and rental property installations. The scheme runs until 31 March 2027. If you’ve been delaying home charger installation, now is an excellent time to act.—## 04 — New Models: 2026 Is a Landmark YearThe automotive industry is delivering on its EV promises in 2026 with a wave of genuinely new models — not rebrands or facelifts, but properly fresh designs with new technology.Volkswagen is launching what could be the electric supermini that finally resonates with mainstream UK buyers, targeting a starting price of around £22,000, with a 226bhp GTI variant to follow later in the year. Skoda is bringing updated 2026 versions of its popular Elroq (from £33,970) and Enyaq (from £39,520) to UK dealerships at the end of June, featuring Android-powered infotainment with an integrated app store, Spotify, YouTube, and a new Digital Key system allowing phone-based locking and starting.Elsewhere, a new Fiat is expected under £21,000, Alpine is bringing a family EV with sports car dynamics, and a Chinese luxury brand is entering the UK with 1,140bhp and crab-walk parking capability. If you’ve been waiting for the right model to upgrade to — 2026 offers the most compelling selection the UK market has ever seen.—## 05 — Company Car & Fleet Owners: HMRC Rates UpdatedHMRC has published new Advisory Fuel Rates effective from 1 June 2026. The updated guidance introduces a dual-rate system for electric cars, with separate reimbursement rates for home charging and public network charging. The public charging advisory rate has risen to 15p per mile, while home charging remains comparatively stable.These rates are advisory rather than mandatory, but employers paying above the published figures without documented evidence of higher actual costs risk creating a taxable benefit for employees. Fleet operators should review and update mileage policies now.For employees considering a new EV, the 2026/27 Benefit-in-Kind rate for zero-emission vehicles sits at just 4% — making electric cars via salary sacrifice one of the most tax-efficient ways to drive in the UK today.—## 06 — Van Operators: A Significant Regulatory WinFrom June 2026, the UK government has eliminated HGV testing and tachograph requirements for larger electric vans in the 3.5–4.25 tonne weight category, bringing them in line with their diesel and petrol equivalents.This follows years of lobbying by fleet and logistics organisations, who argued that battery-electric vans had been unfairly penalised because battery weight pushed them above the traditional 3.5-tonne threshold — despite being comparable in size and application to a standard diesel van. The reform significantly reduces cost and administrative burden for businesses operating or considering zero-emission commercial fleets.—## Looking AheadThe picture for UK EV owners in mid-2026 is genuinely positive. Record sales, a well-funded government grant, rapidly expanding ultra-rapid charging, an improved chargepoint installation grant, compelling new models at every price point, and meaningful regulatory progress for commercial operators — the momentum behind the transition to electric is clear and compelling.Keep an eye on the grant eligibility lists as they continue to be updated, take advantage of the improved chargepoint grant before it closes in March 2027, and enjoy what is shaping up to be the most exciting year in UK electric motoring history.—*Sources: RAC Drive, Zapmap, HMRC/Fleet Point, Honest John, Drive Electric, Electrive, Electric Car Scheme, GOV.UK. Data current as of June 2026. Always verify grant eligibility and pricing directly with manufacturers before purchase.**© 2026 UK EV Owners Club — Member Newsletter*—