World EV Day is celebrated annually on 9th September. The day highlights the importance of electric vehicles in creating a more sustainable future and how EVs contribute to reducing pollution and combating climate change by producing zero emissions.
The switch to electric vehicles is a crucial step in decreasing our carbon footprint by lowering air pollution and creating a cleaner and healthier planet.
If you’re wondering what World EV Day is all about, it’s a celebration dedicated to everything related to electric vehicles! Now in its 7th year, World EV Day also known as World Electric Vehicle Day highlights the impressive growth and significance of the EV industry. Over the years, we’ve witnessed incredible advancements in EV technology, including battery life, performance, and the expansion of charging infrastructure.
Since it began, we now have more charging stations than ever before, and many of them feature ultra-rapid chargers that make owning an EV more convenient. This day serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come in promoting a clean and sustainable planet, and it also provides a glimpse into the exciting advancements that we’ll see in the future.
As of January 2026, the UK’s public charging network now has 116,052 EV chargers, more than the number of fuel pumps nationwide, highlighting the scale and pace of investment in the infrastructure needed to support the transition to electric.
Almost half a million new battery electric vehicles were registered in the UK in 2025, and that momentum has continued into 2026, with more than 327,000 new BEVs registered in the first seven months of the year, up almost 29% on the same period last year. July alone saw more than 43,000 new battery electric vehicles registered, demonstrating the continued growth and increasing choice available to customers.
The UK is also making progress with self-driving taxis, with trials and early rollouts taking place in 2026. Waymo is using fully electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs as it prepares for its London rollout, while Wayve and Uber are testing all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. These developments highlight how electric and autonomous technology are coming together to shape the future of transport.
With self-driving taxis also set to be electric, the government continues to support the electrification of public transport and commercial vehicle fleets, helping to reduce emissions and improve urban air quality.
From 1st April 2026, chargepoint grants increased, with eligible households, landlords and businesses able to receive up to £500 per chargepoint socket, making home and workplace charging more affordable.
The Expensive Car Supplement threshold has increased from £40,000 to £50,000 for zero-emission cars from 1 April 2026, helping to reduce the additional cost for some higher-value EVs.
Looking ahead, Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) is planned for introduction from 1st April 2028. Fully electric cars will pay 3p per mile, while plug-in hybrids will pay 1.5p per mile, alongside existing VED. The government says the new charge will help replace lost fuel duty revenue as more drivers make the switch to electric.
As always, the UK’s electric vehicle landscape continues to evolve, with new technology, investment and policy changes helping to shape the future of electric driving.
2026 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for the electric vehicle market globally, including being a big year for EV releases across the UK. Many are already on the roads, and many are still in production to join them in the remaining months. *
- CUPRA Raval
- Bentley Torcal
- AION UT
- Volkswagen ID.Polo
- smart #2
- XPENG X9
- XPENG G9
- Mercedes-Benz GLB EV
For specific launch dates and the latest information on upcoming electric vehicles, be sure to regularly check our blog!
At JCT600, we’re joining the rest of the world in celebrating World EV Day. Our goal is to make your transition to electric vehicles as easy and stress-free as possible.
We’ve invested in EV training to ensure colleagues at all JCT600 dealerships are ready to provide you with everything you need to know about EVs, as well as specialist training to ensure our vehicle technicians can safely service an EV. In addition to this, we’ve invested millions of pounds in ensuring our building infrastructure and future property developments meet sustainability requirements.
If you’re thinking about making the switch, most of our car manufacturers offer amazing incentives that change throughout the year, so it’s important to always do your research beforehand to ensure you’re getting the best offer. All our EV offers are available to view on our electric hub and are regularly updated to ensure you are kept up to date.
To help you feel confident before committing, we often offer extended test drives on most electric vehicles, giving you a true sense of what it’s like to drive an EV. While switching from a conventional engine might feel different, embracing EVs is a step toward a brighter, more sustainable future.
Building on the rapid growth of electric vehicles in the UK, the future is set to be even more electric. With over two million EVs already on the road, advancements in battery technology and charging infrastructure are making electric cars more accessible and convenient for everyone. Government policies, like the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, are accelerating this shift. As charging networks expand beyond cities into rural areas, and as vehicle choices grow to include SUVs, vans, and even trucks, the UK is paving the way for a cleaner, greener transport system.
To gain more insight and share how JCT600 is preparing for the change, we asked our Group EV and Sustainability Manager, Mike Lumley, what he thinks the future of EVs looks like. He said: