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Today, September 9, 2025, marks World EV Day, and the National Franchised Dealer Association (NFDA) is using the occasion to sharpen its message: keep the consumer at the heart of the UK’s electric vehicle transition. With new battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations climbing 28.6% year-on-year to 355,746 between January and August 2025—accounting for 25.6% of the new car market—the NFDA acknowledges progress but warns that targets alone won’t sustain momentum.
The used EV market is accelerating even faster. In the second quarter of 2025, 110,761 used BEVs changed hands, a 67% jump from the same period last year, pushing electric cars to a record 5.5% share of used transactions. The UK’s public charging network now numbers 121,171 devices, including 28,887 rapid or ultra-rapid chargers. Yet the NFDA insists that these numbers mask a deeper truth: consumer demand must keep pace with regulatory ambition.
“The figures show electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly important part of the UK car market,” said Symon Cook, head of the NFDA’s Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) scheme. “World EV Day is a chance to recognise that progress and the increased consumer choice available. But continued progress depends on addressing the practical concerns that affect demand—affordability, charging availability, and confidence in buying new and used EVs.”
The NFDA’s intervention comes as the UK government reviews the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which sets annual sales targets for manufacturers. The consultation, closing October 23, 2025, examines flexibilities and the route toward 2030 and 2035 ban targets. Dealers have also renewed calls for a scrappage scheme to boost EV sales, a proposal that has gained traction amid affordability concerns.
Value add: A US perspective on the same consumer hurdles
Across the Atlantic, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has voiced similar concerns. In a recent statement, NADA president Mike Stanton noted, “U.S. dealers are also grappling with the gap between regulatory mandates and real-world buyer readiness. While EV market share here has grown—reaching 8.2% of new car sales through July 2025—consumer hesitation persists due to price premiums, range anxiety, and uneven charging infrastructure.” The U.S. Department of Energy reports that public charging ports have exceeded 200,000, but distribution remains concentrated in coastal states. “The UK’s experience mirrors our own: policy must be paired with consumer incentives and infrastructure investment to avoid a demand cliff,” Stanton added.
The NFDA’s EVA scheme, developed in partnership with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and the Energy Saving Trust, assesses dealerships against standards covering the entire EV customer journey—from vehicle selection and charging advice to aftersales support. Recent certifications include Arnold Clark Automobiles and Bells Motor Group, underscoring the industry’s push for higher service standards. The scheme has also worked to improve battery state-of-health transparency in the used EV market, a critical factor for buyer confidence.
“The ZEV mandate has an important role, but targets alone will not deliver a successful transition,” Cook reiterated. “Consumer demand has to keep pace, and that means tackling the issues drivers actually care about: affordability, charging, choice, and confidence. On World EV Day, the message from the NFDA EVA scheme is clear: the UK has made real progress, but maintaining it requires government, industry, and retailers to keep the consumer at the centre.”
Market context: Why affordability and charging remain the top barriers
Data from the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) corroborates the NFDA’s position. The average transaction price for a new BEV in the UK is still £7,000 higher than a comparable petrol car, despite falling battery costs. Meanwhile, the UK’s public charging network, while growing, still lags behind the 300,000 chargers that industry groups estimate will be needed by 2030. The NFDA’s call for a scrappage scheme echoes proposals from several European countries, including France and Germany, where such incentives have boosted EV adoption among lower-income households.
In the US, the Biden administration’s goal of 500,000 public chargers by 2030 faces similar challenges, with only 200,000 currently installed. The Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits have helped, but dealer groups report that many consumers remain confused about eligibility and point-of-sale rebates. “The lesson from the UK is that policy must be
