EVs hit 37.6% of UK new car sales, with Ford leading BEVs. Here’s what that means for fleets, property, and smart green technology strategy in 2025–2026.
The UK’s new car market quietly crossed an important milestone: in October, 37.6% of new cars sold had a plug, up from 30.2% a year earlier. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) grew 24% year-on-year. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) grew 27%. And Ford grabbed the top spot in the UK BEV rankings with around 9% of the pure-electric market.
Most companies still treat this as an interesting trend instead of what it really is: a signal that their next fleet refresh or customer offer needs to be electric-first, not “maybe electric if someone asks.”
This matters because the UK isn’t just buying more electric cars; it’s building the foundations of a green technology economy where smart grids, AI-enabled charging, and cleaner energy all connect. If you care about cost, carbon, or competitiveness, the shift to EVs is no longer theoretical. It’s a planning problem for 2025–2028.
In this post, I’ll break down what that 37.6% share really tells us, why Ford’s BEV performance is a bigger story than it looks, and how businesses can use data, AI, and EV strategy together to reduce emissions and win customers.
UK EV Market at 37.6%: Why This Threshold Matters
The UK hitting 37.6% plugin share means more than “EVs are growing.” It shows that the market is entering the mainstream adoption phase.
A few simple numbers set the scene:
- Total October auto volume: 144,948 vehicles (almost flat year-on-year)
- BEV volume growth: +24% YoY
- PHEV volume growth: +27% YoY
- Plugin share of new sales: 37.6% vs 30.2% a year earlier
So overall car demand was basically unchanged, but plug-in vehicles took a much bigger slice of the pie. That’s not a short-term spike; it’s a structural shift.
From early adopters to early majority
Here’s the thing about market share: once a new technology sits around one-third of new sales, customer expectations flip.
- People start assuming their next car could be electric.
- Used EV supply increases, making the second-hand market more attractive and affordable.
- Infrastructure and services (charging, software, financing, energy tariffs) suddenly have enough volume to scale rapidly.
For the broader green technology story, that 37.6% number is a signal that EVs are now a platform for other innovations:
- Smart charging linked to renewable energy availability
- AI-driven fleet routing to cut both fuel and maintenance costs
- V2G (vehicle-to-grid) pilots using parked EVs as flexible energy assets
When combustion cars were 95–98% of sales, none of this really penciled out. At almost 40% plug-in share, it starts to.
Ford Tops BEV Rankings: Why That’s a Big Deal
Ford taking around 9% of the UK BEV market isn’t just a leaderboard curiosity. It tells you how fast traditional automakers can pivot when they finally commit.
What Ford’s BEV success signals
Ford has been under pressure from both ends:
- From pure-play EV brands pushing technology-forward models
- From regulators and investors demanding credible decarbonisation plans
So seeing Ford lead UK BEV share suggests three important shifts:
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Product-market fit is improving
Models that feel familiar (like the Ford Puma, and upcoming mainstream models) but run on electrons, not petrol, are resonating with buyers. People want EVs that look and drive like “normal cars” but cut running costs. -
Dealer networks are starting to get serious
When a legacy brand tops BEV rankings, it usually means their retail and fleet teams have turned the corner from hesitant to proactive on electric. -
Competitive pressure will intensify
If Ford can win BEV share, other established brands no longer have an excuse. Expect faster model refreshes and more focus on electric-only platforms.
For businesses and fleet operators, a brand like Ford leading BEV share lowers perceived risk. It reassures conservative buyers who might still be nervous about “new” technology brands.
BEVs vs PHEVs: Two Different Tools, Not One Trend
BEVs and PHEVs both grew strongly in October, but they serve different needs.
- BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles): Zero tailpipe emissions, simpler powertrain, lower running costs, higher reliance on charging infrastructure.
- PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrids): Short electric-only range plus an engine, useful for mixed-use patterns or poor charging access.
The October numbers—24% BEV growth and 27% PHEV growth—tell you demand is strong for both. But I’d argue businesses should treat them as different tools in a larger green technology strategy, not as interchangeable vehicles.
When BEVs make the most sense
BEVs tend to be the better choice when:
- Daily mileage is predictable (last-mile delivery, service fleets, city logistics)
- Vehicles return to a depot or fixed base each night
- You want clear, reportable CO₂ reductions for ESG or regulatory reporting
In these use cases, AI-enabled route planning and charging optimisation can reduce both electricity spend and time off the road. Many fleets are already using algorithms to:
- Schedule charging during low-tariff, high-renewable periods
- Optimise routes for fewer stops and less congestion
- Balance vehicle assignments so battery health is preserved over time
Where PHEVs still have a role
PHEVs can be a transitional option when:
- Drivers can’t yet rely on consistent charging access
- Routes mix dense urban driving with remote areas
- You need to keep staff comfortable during the change, while still cutting emissions
But there’s a catch: PHEV emissions depend heavily on how they’re used. If they’re never plugged in, you’re mostly carrying dead weight. That’s where smart policies and telematics matter.
Businesses that do PHEVs right usually:
- Track charging behaviour and electric vs combustion mileage
- Set incentives or minimum charging compliance for drivers
- Use AI or analytics tools to flag vehicles that are effectively running as regular hybrids
The reality? For long-term planning, BEVs will dominate. PHEVs are a bridge—useful, but not the destination.
What This Means for Fleets, Property Owners, and Cities
If you manage vehicles, buildings, or urban infrastructure, a 37.6% plugin share is a planning alert, not a trivia fact.
For fleet managers
Fleet decisions made in 2025 will define operating costs and emissions through 2030 and beyond. With EV sales climbing and models like the Ford Puma EV, Renault 5, and Mercedes CLA EV ramping up, waiting for a mythical “perfect moment” to switch is just delay.
Practical steps that work:
-
Start with a data-backed pilot
- Pick 5–20 vehicles with predictable routes.
- Analyse telematics: daily mileage, dwell times, parking patterns.
- Swap them for BEVs and track fuel, maintenance, and downtime.
-
Use software, not spreadsheets
- Route optimisation software + EV range modelling = fewer unpleasant surprises.
- Add smart charging tools that align charging with low grid prices.
-
Tie EVs to your ESG and reporting stack
- Quantify CO₂ reductions vs the old fleet.
- Feed that into ESG reports, tenders, and investor updates.
For property owners and landlords
EV growth is turning parking spaces into energy touchpoints. That’s a revenue and differentiation opportunity.
Key moves for 2025–2026:
- Pre-wire car parks and garages for scalable charging rather than installing one-off chargers
- Use load management and, where possible, AI-based control to avoid expensive grid upgrades
- Offer EV-ready parking as a premium feature for tenants or staff
As EV penetration climbs past 40–50% of new sales, buildings that can’t support charging will look outdated very quickly.
For cities and public sector planners
Local authorities planning for clean air, congestion, and energy resilience should treat rising EV share as an asset, not just a challenge.
Opportunities include:
- Targeted public charging where private supply won’t cover demand
- Integrating EV data with smart city platforms to understand traffic, charging demand, and air quality
- Coordinating with grid operators on where new capacity or flexibility is needed most
EVs are increasingly part of a larger green technology ecosystem: combined with heat pumps, solar, and storage, they form flexible demand that can stabilise a renewables-heavy grid.
How AI Supercharges the EV Transition
AI isn’t just a buzzword stapled to green technology. Used properly, it’s the difference between “EVs are more hassle” and “EVs cut our costs and emissions at the same time.”
Here’s where AI already delivers real value:
1. Smart charging and energy management
AI can forecast demand, prices, and renewable generation, then schedule charging automatically. That means:
- Lower electricity costs for fleets, offices, and multi-unit buildings
- Less strain on local transformers and wiring
- Higher utilisation of cleaner energy when the grid is greenest
2. Route and asset optimisation
For delivery, service, and logistics fleets:
- AI models match routes to vehicles with enough range
- Algorithms account for real-world factors like traffic, elevation, and weather
- Over time, the system learns which vehicles, drivers, and patterns are most efficient
This is where the environmental and financial cases line up: fewer miles driven, less energy used, and better use of each vehicle.
3. Strategic planning and scenario testing
Organisations can use AI tools to answer questions like:
- “What if we convert 40% of our fleet by 2027 and 80% by 2030?”
- “How many chargers do we actually need at each depot or office?”
- “What’s the impact of future policies or fuel price changes on our total cost of ownership?”
Instead of guessing, you can run scenarios and pick the mix of BEVs, PHEVs, and charging that hits your cost and carbon targets.
Where the UK EV Market Goes Next
A plugin share of 37.6% isn’t the finish line; it’s the middle of the adoption curve. Over the next few years, expect:
- More affordable compact EVs like the Renault 5 reaching mass-market buyers
- Aerodynamic and efficient models like the Mercedes CLA EV pushing highway efficiency higher
- Legacy manufacturers following Ford’s lead in aggressively chasing BEV share
- Stronger pressure on charging networks to deliver reliability, not just coverage
For businesses and public bodies, the risk now isn’t “going electric too early.” The bigger risk is underestimating how fast customer expectations, regulations, and cost curves are shifting.
If you’re part of this transition—whether you manage a fleet, own property, or plan infrastructure—the next step is simple: treat EVs and smart energy as a core part of your green technology strategy, not a side project.
The organisations that win this decade won’t just buy EVs; they’ll integrate them with AI, data, and energy planning to create systems that are cleaner, cheaper, and smarter than what came before.
The question isn’t whether that 37.6% becomes 50% and then 80%. The question is whether you’ll be ready when it does.