Welsh drivers speeding down the EV route

Blaenau Gwent is leading Britain’s electric car boom, recording the fastest growth in private EV ownership, with battery electric vehicle (BEV) numbers rising by almost 90% year on year, according to new analysis of Government data by AA Cars.

The latest vehicle licensing data from the Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency shows motorists in Blaenau Gwent in Wales owned 370 privately-owned battery electric cars in 2025 Q4, up from 197 a year earlier. Knowsley and Hull rank second and third, with private BEV ownership rising by 86.7% and 86.6%, respectively. Adjoining Merthyr Tydfil was also in the top ten growth areas (see table below).

At the other end of the scale, London leads the ranking for the slowest-rising rates of EV ownership in the UK. Kensington and Chelsea recorded the slowest year-on-year growth in private battery electric car ownership, with numbers rising by 3.7%.

However, this still means the borough had 2,272 privately-owned battery electric cars in 2025 Q4 – more than six times the number recorded in Blaenau Gwent, despite the Welsh local authority topping the growth ranking.

In fact, nine of the ten UK local authorities that saw the slowest growth in EV ownership are in London, with only the Orkney Islands sitting outside the capital. Many of these boroughs already have some of the highest levels of EV ownership in the table, including Barnet with 6,417 privately-owned battery electric cars, Richmond upon Thames with 3,022, Wandsworth with 2,958 and Westminster with 2,805.

This slower pace of growth likely reflects the capital’s already relatively high base level of EV adoption, meaning year-on-year increases appear more modest, alongside factors such as limited access to off-street parking, greater reliance on public transport, and the challenges associated with installing home charging infrastructure.

The figures come at a time when fuel prices remain firmly in the spotlight, prompting many drivers to take a closer look at the long-term running costs of their next car.

The timing is significant, suggesting EV interest is not only spreading geographically but may also be getting a fresh lift from two powerful consumer drivers. Firstly, used EV prices are falling as a result of more ex-lease vehicles appearing at dealerships, creating a massive supply. Secondly, the conflict in the Middle East has caused fuel prices to surge, with roughly a 15% YoY rise in petrol costs.

In March, AA Cars recorded a 62% jump in searches for electric vehicles compared to February. While buying decisions are shaped by a range of factors, the uplift suggests some motorists are weighing the potential savings offered by fully electric vehicles.

AA Cars’ latest Used Car Index also reveals that the average price of the 20 most searched-for EVs and hybrids fell by 7.1% year on year in Q1 2026, marking the fifth consecutive quarterly decline and helping make used electric motoring more accessible to a wider range of buyers.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, battery electric vehicle  registrations grew by 59.1% in April 2026, as the two millionth electric vehicle was registered. These figures underline the growing importance of the used market in widening access to EV ownership.[3]

Fastest-rising rates of battery electric car ownership in the UK