From 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will end in the UK, with all new cars and vans required to be fully zero-emission by 2035.
To understand which UK cities are seeing the biggest shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles, we analysed Freedom of Information data on electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle registrations in 2025, comparing figures with 2022. While hybrids are not included in the 2035 zero-emission target, they remain part of the transition towards lower-emission driving.
The UK cities with the highest increase in EV registrations since 2022
A Freedom of Information request was submitted to the DVLA for the number of EV and hybrid vehicles registered in 2025. The data was compared to the same FOI request data for 2022. Data correct as of June 2026.
- Chester - 1,196% Increase
Chester saw the biggest increase in electric vehicle registrations between 2022 and 2025, with a 1,197% rise. In 2022, 1,097 EVs were registered in the city, compared with 14,228 in 2025. Chester also recorded the largest increase in combined EV and hybrid registrations, rising by 686% over the same period.
- Manchester - 468% Increase
Manchester saw the second biggest increase in electric vehicle registrations, rising by 468% between 2022 and 2025. A total of 1,211 EVs were registered in 2022, increasing to 6,882 in 2025. The North West city also saw a 270% increase in combined EV and hybrid registrations during the period analysed.
- Peterborough - 363% Increase
Peterborough follows in third place for the biggest increase in EV registrations, with a 364% rise between 2022 and 2025. The city saw EV registrations increase from 5,390 in 2022 to 24,990 in 2025, meaning its growth was driven by a significant increase in registrations rather than a smaller starting base. Peterborough also recorded a 156% increase in combined EV and hybrid registrations during the period analysed.
The UK cities with the highest decrease in EV registrations in 2025
- Newport - 100% decrease
The Welsh city of Newport saw a 100% decrease in EV registrations from 2022 to 2025. In 2022, 598 EVs were registered, but none were registered in 2025, according to the DVLA data. Newport also saw the largest decrease in hybrid registrations, at 99.94%. Just one hybrid car was registered in 2025, compared to 1,549 in 2022.
- Bath - 93.37% decrease
Bath follows with the second largest decrease in EV registrations. 5,265 EVs were registered in 2022 compared to just 349 in 2025, resulting in a 93% decrease. The decrease in EVs was mirrored with hybrid registrations, with Bath seeing an 83% decrease in hybrid car registrations in 2025.
- Watford - 90.53% decrease
Watford completes the top three, with a 90.53% decrease in EV registrations. 4,909 EVs were registered in Watford in 2022, compared to 465 in 2025. In 2022, Watford had the twelfth highest number of EV registrations in the UK, and is now twenty–sixth in 2025.
The cities with the highest increase of hybrid registrations in 2025
- Chester - 445% Increase
Chester recorded the biggest increase in hybrid vehicle registrations, rising by 446% between 2022 and 2025. A total of 2,337 hybrid vehicles were registered in 2022, compared with 12,758 in 2025.
- Exeter - 317% Increase
Exeter saw the second-largest increase in hybrid registrations at 318%. In 2022, 4,265 hybrid vehicles were registered, increasing to 17,820 in 2025. Exeter also recorded the second-highest growth in combined EV and hybrid registrations, rising by 270% since 2022.
- Liverpool - 236% Increase
2025 marked a 236% increase in Liverpool’s hybrid registrations with 6,834 hybrid vehicles registered, compared to 2,033 in 2022. Overall, Liverpool had the fourth-highest growth in combined EV and hybrid registrations in 2025, with a 226% increase.
The UK cities with the highest decrease in hybrid registrations
- Newport - 99.94% decrease
Much like electric vehicle registrations, Newport saw the highest decrease in hybrid registrations in 2025. In 2022, 1,549 hybrid vehicles were registered, whereas just one was registered in 2025. Newport saw the largest decrease in combined registrations for EVs and hybrid vehicles.
- Guildford - 87.36% decrease
Guildford reported the second highest decrease in hybrid registrations in 2025. The town reported 8,610 registrations in 2022 and 1,088 in 2025.
- Bath - 83.41% decrease
Bath saw the third highest decrease in hybrid registrations, with 83.41% fewer registrations in 2025 than in 2022. 3,913 hybrid cars were registered in the city in 2022, compared to 649 in 2025.
FOI request from DVLA - data can be found here: The UK cities seeing the biggest increase in EV and hybrid registrations
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