The UK’s EV penetration rate reached 25% of all new passenger car and light duty vehicle sales in 2024, placing it firmly ahead of other major Western automotive markets, such as the US, Germany, and France.

But this figure is still a long way behind the adoption of the most advanced regions, particularly China and Northern Europe, according to Rho Motion’s National-level EV penetration rate figures.

Which cities have the highest EV uptake?

Inner London and Leeds lead the way with EV sales penetration above 40%. In Inner London, there are clear drivers: low mileage requirements, the congestion charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone are all incentives for drivers to turn towards electric.

A mass rollout of on-street lamppost charge points has also made recharging an easier prospect for the high proportion of residents with access only to on-street parking. Each of the top 5 London boroughs by EV share sits well above the national level of 25%.

What drives Leeds’ EV demand?

The city of Leeds has looked to increase EV adoption in the city over the past few years with campaigns such as #LeedsByExample. Additionally, the roll out of charging infrastructure in the city has been successful with hundreds of points available, aiding EV adoption.

However, in the UK, regional data can sometimes be skewed by the registrations of large firms that register vehicles all in one place; this can distort the data in some places and lead to outliers. While private residents of Leeds may well be progressing the city’s EV share, there aren’t as many obvious drivers as somewhere like London.

Other regions lagging behind

But, most cities fall below the national level, with some still just half of the 25% – showing more needs to be done to reach the highest levels of EV adoption via local support and enablement. Furthermore, the challenge will increase once high-achieving areas reach saturation and have a lesser effect on pulling up the national average.

The UK EV market in 2025

The UK market has shown strong growth so far this year, a 31% increase from January to August compared to the same period last year. In July 2025, the government reintroduced a subsidy scheme aimed at subsidising vehicles at the lower end of the price spectrum. Additionally, at the start of the year the government introduced guidelines for cross-pavement charging solutions as well as setting aside funding, a move that will make the installation of chargers more widespread and aid EV adoption.

More Information

Rho Motion’s Monthly EV & Battery Database and Monthly Sales Assessment tracks BEV and PHEV sales as well as providing country-level penetration rate data.

The UK EV market will take centre stage at our upcoming Benchmark Summit London. This free one-day event, held on 15 October during LME Week, will bring together policy, finance, and industry leaders to explore how best to drive success in the energy transition. Register here.