Study shows EV adoption in England spreading beyond wealthy early adopters across income groups
By Eve
New analysis of battery electric vehicle ownership in England reveals that EV uptake is broadening across almost all socio-economic groups, with around 1.23 million battery electric vehicles registered as of Q2 2025. The study, which compares vehicle registration data with the UK's Index of Multiple Deprivation, finds that while wealthier areas still show the highest penetration, recent growth patterns indicate adoption is expanding beyond affluent households, though the most deprived ten percent of areas still show slower progress due to structural barriers including poverty and economic pressure.
Why it matters
The shift from concentrated wealthy adoption to broader socio-economic uptake signals a fundamental change in charging infrastructure requirements, with implications for where CPOs deploy chargers and how networks plan for electricity demand. The persistent gap in the most deprived areas highlights the need for targeted charging solutions and policy interventions to ensure equitable access to EV infrastructure.
Source
- Original title
- “UK – Study finds EV adoption spreading across income groups”
- Published
- 20 March 2026
- Updated
- 18 July 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Policy & Market
- Place
- United Kingdom
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