‘Get That Electric Feeling’ promotes the Electric Car Grant, which offers up to £3,750 off the purchase price of a new EV, alongside estimated annual savings of £1,400 on running costs. The campaign focuses on the consumer benefits and the presence of over 87,000 public charge points.

At the same time, industry stakeholders and energy suppliers are focused on the infrastructure and grid management requirements necessary to support a projected surge in demand.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that the UK new car market exceeded two million registrations in 2025. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) achieved a 23.4% market share for the year; however, this performance fell short of the 28% target set by the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The ZEV mandate target for 2026 is set at 33%, according to the SMMT.

Manufacturers have reportedly subsidised sales by over £5bn in 2025 to drive uptake, but the SMMT warns that the trajectory remains ‘unsustainable’ without continued support and infrastructure development.  

In response to the ‘Get That Electric Feeling’ campaign, Ian Plummer, Chief Customer Officer at Auto Trader, stated that ‘reinforcement of the benefits of electric car ownership is key to ensure consideration translates into buying’. Maria Taylor of Verulam Capital noted that lengthy connection queues and under-investment in local infrastructure risk slowing the rollout even where consumer demand is sufficient.

Energy suppliers and fleet operators are moving their focus toward the technical ‘how’ of electrification. Drax Energy Solutions indicates that 2026 will be defined by ownership, cost and innovation in fleet management. While public perception is a factor, suppliers emphasise that grid limits and space constraints remain primary hurdles. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) reported that the queue for new demand connections rose to 29 GW by mid-2025, highlighting the competition for limited capacity at primary substations.

To mitigate these pressures, the government is prioritising smart charging. The Department for Transport’s EV smart charging action plan aims to make smart charging the norm at home and work by 2026, shifting power demand to off-peak periods or times of high renewable generation.

Zapmap reported that in 2025 more than 14,000 new public chargers were added in 2025, reaching a cumulative total of 87,796. While ultra-rapid charging (150kW+) grew by 41%, regional inequality persists, with Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of the East of England continuing to lag behind London and the South East.

Growth rates in charge devices present on Zapmap at end of December 2024 to end December 2025

Source: Zapmap Insights 
 

Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder of Zapmap, noted that while 2025 was a ‘record-breaking year’ for specific high-power installations, the focus in 2026 must transition to the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to increase ‘equitable access’ for those without off-street parking.  

A financial sector analysis from McKinsey suggests that upgrading the UK energy system – not just supply, but storage, transmission and distribution – is required to lower industrial electricity prices, which remained among the highest in the OECD in late 2025.

Industry data from late 2025 indicates that approximately one in four new car sales are now electric, supported by the Electric Car Grant which has assisted over 50,000 drivers. However, Vicky Read, Chief Executive for ChargeUK, added: ‘As we enter the government’s review into the cost of public charging in the first half of this year we hope to see action taken to reduce the cost burdens on charge point operators, which will both help to unlock further investment to speed up deployment and bring down driver prices. Clear and stable EV policy, including no further wavering on EV sales targets, will also continue to be critical.’