Can the UK overcome the 'lingering EV wealth divide'?

clock • 10 min read
Credit: Motability Scheme
Image:

Credit: Motability Scheme

Two studies published this week warn the electric vehicle transition is at risk of stalling if the cost of buying and charging new cars locks out poorer households

The UK's electric vehicle (EV) market is motoring. 2025 was recently hailed as another "bumper year" for EV sales by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) with more than 470,000 new EVs...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Author spotlight

Amber Rolt

View profile
More from Amber Rolt

Electric Car Grant helped 140,000 UK drivers switch to an EV in the past year

Government launches £5m Port Talbot green skills funding boost for young people

More on Automotive

Electric Car Grant helped 140,000 UK drivers switch to an EV in the past year
Automotive

Electric Car Grant helped 140,000 UK drivers switch to an EV in the past year

A year on from its launch, the government confirms demand for EVs is 'stronger than ever' as grant scheme offers £3,750 off the cost of new models

Amber Rolt
clock 16 July 2026 • 3 min read
'The used market is becoming a more realistic place to start': Price of UK's most popular second-hand EVs drops 10 per cent in a year
Automotive

'The used market is becoming a more realistic place to start': Price of UK's most popular second-hand EVs drops 10 per cent in a year

Latest Used Car Index from AA Cars shows Nissan Leaf as most popular second-hand EV, with its price falling 17 per cent to just over £8,000

Amber Rolt
clock 14 July 2026 • 2 min read
'Greener plants for greener vehicles': Auto industry's renewables drive cuts 14,000 tonnes of CO2 from UK vehicle production
Automotive

'Greener plants for greener vehicles': Auto industry's renewables drive cuts 14,000 tonnes of CO2 from UK vehicle production

SMMT says further gains from renewables roll out depends on faster grid connections and simpler planning rules

Amber Rolt
clock 14 July 2026 • 4 min read