Image: Nissan39.084 new battery electric cars were registered in the UK in April, 59.1% more than in April 2025. BEVs thus accounted for 26.2% of new registrations. Electrified vehicles as a whole – including BEVs, plug-in hybrids and full hybrids – represented 53.2% of the market, marking the second time this year that more than half of all new cars featured an electrified powertrain.Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles contributed a 13.8% market share in April, following growth of 46.4%, while hybrid electric vehicles reached 13.2%, up 18.8%. Together, these segments continue to support the broader electrification of the UK vehicle fleet.This follows an already strong March, when 86,120 battery-electric units were newly registered. Market share then stood at 22.6 per cent. Electrified vehicles had reached a record volume, with a combined 196,059 registrations across battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid models.Alongside strong momentum in electric mobility, the UK reached a major milestone. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, cumulative battery-electric registrations totalled 2,012,758 vehicles. As usual, the SMMT says to take these results with a grain of salt. Because: Despite the milestone and continued growth, battery-electric uptake remains below regulatory expectations. Year to date, BEVs account for 23.1% of new car registrations, significantly short of the 33% share required under the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.The SMMT attributes the slower-than-expected BEV uptake to a range of factors, including high energy and production costs, as well as the continued need for investment in charging infrastructure. Manufacturers have also introduced significant incentives and discounts to support demand, alongside government measures such as the Electric Car Grant.Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT, said: “Two million electric car registrations is a considerable milestone to celebrate, although natural demand is still well below the level demanded by the mandate.”Outlook revised for EV adoptionThe SMMT has revised its outlook for electric vehicle adoption in 2026, lowering its expectations following weaker demand in the first quarter. Battery-electric vehicles are now projected to achieve a 26.8% market share this year, down from an earlier forecast of 28.5%.At the same time, overall vehicle registrations are expected to reach 2.093 million units in 2026, reflecting improved confidence in total market volumes. By 2027, the market is forecast to grow to 2.121 million units, with BEVs accounting for 32.0% of registrations.This would still leave a gap of around six percentage points compared to ZEV mandate requirements, indicating ongoing challenges in aligning market demand with regulatory targets.Hawes warned: “The mounting cost of compliance threatens to limit consumer choice, overall decarbonisation and the sector’s competitiveness so the need for a rapid review of the transition to align policy with market realities is unchanged, else Britain’s attractiveness as a vehicle market and manufacturing hub will be put at risk.”smmt.co.uk