The Tipping Point: Why Electric Vehicles Are Now Selling Faster Than Gas Cars in the UK

For years, the naysayers have dominated the headlines. We’ve heard that electric vehicles (EVs) are too expensive, that the range is insufficient, and that they are piling up unsold on dealership forecourts. However, as we approach the end of 2025, the data paints a radically different picture. In a stunning reversal of automotive orthodoxy, EVs are not just catching up to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles in the UK—they are actively outpacing them.

Recent data reveals a watershed moment for the British automotive market: used electric vehicles are now selling faster than their petrol and diesel counterparts. According to digital remarketing analysis from late 2024 and 2025, the average used EV spends just over 17 hours on a digital wholesale forecourt before being snapped up, compared to slightly longer wait times for petrol vehicles. This metric is the pulse of the market, indicating that demand has finally stripped supply in the second-hand sector.

This isn’t just a statistical anomaly; it represents a fundamental shift in consumer psychology and economic reality. The UK has quietly become one of the most dynamic EV markets in the world, and the implications for drivers, the economy, and the environment are profound.

Why Are People Buying More EVs in the UK?

The surge in EV adoption is not driven by a single factor but by a convergence of economic necessity and product maturity.

1. The Price Correction and the Used Market The primary driver of this acceleration is the “great price correction” of 2023 and 2024. Early depreciation hit new EV buyers hard, but it created a gold rush for second-hand buyers. High-quality EVs like the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf became available at price parity—or even cheaper—than equivalent petrol cars. SMMT data shows used EV sales jumped by 44% in recent quarters, proving that for the average British family grappling with the cost of living, the math has become undeniable: why pay £1.50 per liter for petrol when you can run an EV for a fraction of the cost?

2. The Salary Sacrifice Boom For new car buyers, the UK’s Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates remain a massive incentive. Corporate buyers and employees utilizing salary sacrifice schemes are hoovering up new stock. With the BiK rate frozen at a low 3% for 2025/26, these schemes effectively reduce the cost of leasing a new electric car by 30-50%. This makes a £40,000 EV cheaper to own on a monthly basis than a £25,000 petrol hatchback.

3. A Flood of Affordable Models 2025 has been the year of the “attainable” EV. We have moved past the era where the only options were a £100,000 Porsche or a compromised city car. The arrival of vehicles like the Kia EV3, the Skoda Elroq, and the continued dominance of the MG4 has democratized access. These cars offer 250+ miles of real-world range for prices that compete directly with the Ford Puma and Volkswagen Golf.

Will This Trend Accelerate or Decelerate?

The trajectory is unmistakably upward, and it is likely to accelerate rather than plateau.

The primary force ensuring this acceleration is the UK Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This policy compels manufacturers to sell a specific percentage of EVs each year—rising from 22% in 2024 to 28% in 2025, and climbing steeply toward 80% by 2030. Manufacturers who miss these targets face crippling fines. Consequently, we will see aggressive discounting, attractive finance offers, and a throttling of petrol inventory to force the mix to shift.

Furthermore, the “charging anxiety” narrative is losing its teeth. Zapmap statistics for 2025 indicate the public charging network has grown by over 23% in the last year alone, now exceeding 86,000 devices. While there are still blackspots, the visible proliferation of rapid chargers at supermarkets and service stations is giving buyers the confidence to switch. As battery technology improves—seeing standard ranges creep toward 400 miles—the final practical hurdles are vanishing.

The End of the Road: When Will the UK Stop Selling ICE Cars?

The regulatory landscape has settled after a period of uncertainty. Following the general election victory in July 2024, the Labour government moved swiftly to clarify the timeline.

The ban on the sale of new purely petrol and diesel cars has been restored to 2030. This reversal of the previous administration’s delay brings the UK back in line with its original ambitious climate goals. However, there is nuance here: the sale of certain hybrid vehicles may be permitted between 2030 and 2035, provided they offer “significant zero-emission capability.”

By 2035, the sale of all new vehicles with an internal combustion engine—including hybrids—will cease entirely. This places the UK among the most ambitious nations globally, aligning it with leading markets rather than laggards. For the consumer, this means the next five years will be the “twilight era” of the combustion engine, where petrol options dwindle and electric options multiply.

Benefits to the UK: Why This Matters

The rapid transition is not just about virtue signaling; it is an economic and health imperative for Britain.

• Public Health and Air Quality: The most immediate benefit is the cleaning of our urban air. Cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester are already seeing reductions in NO2 levels. The shift to EVs reduces particulate matter from tailpipes to zero, directly combating respiratory diseases and saving the NHS millions annually.
• Energy Security: Moving the fleet to electricity decouples UK transport from the volatile global oil market. With Britain generating substantial wind power, EVs allow the nation to run its transport network on homegrown energy, improving national energy security.
• Economic Leadership: The UK is positioning itself as a hub for green technology. Investments in battery gigafactories and EV manufacturing (such as Nissan in Sunderland) are vital for preserving automotive jobs in a post-combustion world.

Where Does This Rank the UK Globally?

In terms of EV adoption, the UK is punching significantly above its weight.

As of late 2025, the UK consistently ranks in the top tier of European nations. According to PwC’s eReadiness survey, the UK has climbed to 5th place in Europe, trailing only the Scandinavian pioneers (like Norway) and occasionally the Netherlands. We are comfortably ahead of major markets like Italy and Spain and are often trading blows with Germany and France for market share percentage.

Globally, while China remains the undisputed volume leader, the UK is recognized as a “mature” EV market. The rapid turnover of used EVs here is a metric that many other nations are watching enviously, as it suggests a healthy, circular economy for electric transport is establishing itself faster here than almost anywhere else.

The People’s Choice: Most Popular EVs in the UK

The best-seller list in 2025 reflects a market that values practicality and brand prestige in equal measure.

• Tesla Model Y: It remains the undisputed king. Despite its age, the Model Y’s combination of the Supercharger network, class-leading software, and cavernous storage keeps it at the top spot. See detailed specs and sales data here.
• Kia EV3: The breakout star of 2025. It brings the futuristic design of the flagship EV9 down to a price point that families can swallow. It is rapidly becoming the default choice for the suburban household.
• MG4: The value proposition. It drives better than a Volkswagen ID.3 and costs significantly less. It has captured the fleet and private buyer market who want “no-nonsense” range and performance.
• Nissan Leaf (Used): In the second-hand market, the Leaf remains a hero. It is the entry point for thousands of first-time EV drivers, proving that electric motoring is not just for the wealthy.

Wrapping Up

The narrative has flipped. The UK is no longer just “talking” about an electric future; it is actively buying it. The fact that used EVs are selling faster than petrol cars is the ultimate proof of concept—it shows that when the price is right, the public prefers the electric driving experience. With the 2030 ban locked in and infrastructure rolling out at pace, the internal combustion engine is not just losing market share; it is losing the argument. The road ahead is silent, clean, and increasingly electric.

Disclosure: Images rendered by Artlist.io

Rob Enderle is a technology analyst at Torque News who covers automotive technology and battery developments. You can learn more about Rob on Wikipedia and follow his articles on Forbes, X, and LinkedIn.