Walk into a car showroom to peruse the latest models and you’ll now find two in five are electric.

A market review conducted this week reveals there are now 167 fully electric options to choose from, as manufacturers ramp up the transition away from traditional petrol and diesel engines.

Back in 2016, there were just 14 EVs on sale in Britain meaning a 12–fold increase in options now available to motorists.

The shift is mirrored in falling tailpipe emissions, with a reported 36.6 million tonnes of CO2 saved since 2016 as a result of there being a wider variety of greener models to choose from. 

This is equal to the annual carbon footprint of more than nine million homes, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The trade body claims that the average range of new battery–powered models now exceeds 300 miles, making EVs an increasingly practical choice for motorists, especially at a time when petrol and diesel prices are soaring due to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

Yet half of you say you will never buy one, no matter the circumstances.

In a poll we published last month, more than 6,000 Daily Mail readers were asked: what would most likely get you into an EV? 

At the time of publishing, 54 per cent have voted: ‘Nothing in this world could convince me to swap.’

A market review conducted this week reveals there are now 167 fully electric options available to drivers in showrooms today as manufacturers continue to drive towards an EV future

The SMMT says that 40.9 per cent of cars available in dealerships today are EVs.

That choice spans every vehicle segment, from compact urban runarounds and family SUVs to high–end luxury saloons and supercars.

With the average EV now delivering ranges of more than 300 miles – though based on official measurements rather than real–world driving behaviour – most models on the market today will comfortably surpass the typical weekly driving distance for UK motorists, which the SMMT says is 127 miles.

The reintroduction of electric car grants last year has also made them more affordable, with almost 60 variants eligible for discounts of between £1,500 and £3,750.

But this transition to electric has come at an incredible cost, most of which has been shouldered by manufacturers.

Some 51 brands in the UK now offer at least one EV, including niche marques such as Rolls‑Royce and Lotus. This is up from just 12 car companies a decade ago.

But for some, their investment has backfired and triggered financial losses.

As such, a number of car makers in recent months have scaled back or delayed their EV strategies due to slower–than–expected consumer demand.

Audi, Ford, Mercedes–Benz and Volvo are among the mainstream names that have extended their deadlines for phasing out combustion engine cars in the last two years.

Manufacturers have also suffered losses from slashing prices to make EVs more appealing at a time when consumer demand has not matched supply.

The SMMT estimates that the industry has given up more than £10billion in discounting alone since 2024.

Mike Hawes, the trade body’s chief executive, said: ‘Ten years ago, electric vehicles were a curiosity for many drivers. Today, they are a core part of the UK new car market, with unprecedented choice, longer battery range and growing consumer appetite.

‘Massive manufacturer investment has delivered this progress, but continued government action to accelerate demand and support manufacturer investment is essential to keep the transition on track.’

Yet Daily Mail readers are still to be convinced.

In our April poll, fewer than half said they would even consider owning an EV.

Some 20 per cent said longer ranges between charges might sway them to switch, while 15 per cent said lower purchase prices would make EVs more attractive.

But the vast majority – 3,288 out of 6,065 (at the time of publishing) – said they would refuse to give up a conventional combustion engine car under any circumstances.

Electrified vehicles to ‘overtake petrol and diesel cars on the road by 2034’

In a new report released this week, analysts forecast there will be more ‘electrified’ cars (EVs and hybrids combined) on the road than traditional combustion engine cars as early as 2034.

Insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk suggests electrified vehicles will make up 50.5 per cent of the total UK car parc in eight years’ time.

According to the latest DVLA records, there are roughly 34.5 million cars on the road in the UK today.

Petrol is the most common fuel type, accounting for around 55 per cent of all vehicles.

This is followed by diesel at approximately 29.8 per cent. However, with few new diesel options on the market today, share of the car parc is expected to fall significantly in the coming years.

In contrast, EVs make up around 4.8 per cent of cars on the road, while hybrids account for 10.4 per cent.

Quotezone estimates that 2034 will be the year when ‘electrified’ vehicles (EVs and hybrids) surpass the volume of conventional combustion engine cars (petrol and diesel) on the road

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But a combination of factors – not least the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars, and hybrids five years later in 2035, expanding charging infrastructure, falling prices and changes to government regulations (such as making it easier for EV drivers without driveways to charge at home) – will see electrified vehicles become the dominant force, it says.

Quotezone projects that EVs and hybrids will represent 37 per cent of all cars on our streets by 2031, overtaking petrols (36.9 per cent). 

And within three years, it expects electrified cars to surpass petrol and diesel combined, meaning the majority of vehicles Britons drive will be solely or supplementary powered by a battery and e-motors. 

Greg Wilson, CEO at Quotezone, said: ‘Many drivers had been concerned that an electric vehicle would not be a straightforward option for them – with a Quotezone survey showing 82 per cent of drivers thought the availability of charging points would restrict their lifestyle and make it less likely for them to switch to EVs.

‘However, the Government’s proposed changes and financial support are making electric choices a much more realistic option for millions of drivers.’