Skip to content
EV & Sustainability

UK ranks ahead of EU and US in EV transition readiness

The UK scored fourth, with 34 points, putting it comfortably in the 'Leading Markets' tier, ranking behind Norway (48), Ethiopia (42), and China (39).

2 min read
Share
disabled drivers EV

The UK has ranked above the EU and US in the EV100 Global Transition Barometer, which aims to rank the readiness of each nation for the electric vehicle (EV) transition.

The UK scored fourth, with 34 points, putting it comfortably in the ‘Leading Markets’ tier, ranking behind Norway (48), Ethiopia (42), and China (39).

The EU and US still ranked among the Leading Markets, but scored lower, with both scoring 26.

EV100 has been relaunched by Climate Group, commissioning New AutoMotive to sort the readiness of markets for the EV transition into two groups, based on: charging infrastructure, regulations, incentives, and the current level of EV uptake.

Emerging Markets included Switzerland, which scored 20, Japan and Morocco (both 16), Australia and Brazil (15), and Vietnam (12).

The two-tier system was introduced for the 2025 report, with other changes including the disqualification of plug-in hybrids.

The report credits UK’s high level of EV readiness to the clarity of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, although warns that its allowances for slower EV uptake in the short term could lead to long-term issues, such as the need for manufacturers to rapidly accelerate EV sales between 2029 and 2030.

Reasons for the EU’s lower ranking than the UK include the roll-backs seen around CO2 regulations, due to fears that European car makers are not competitive with Chinese EV manufacturers, and the EU’s consideration of potential future sales of e-fuel powered combustion vehicles beyond 2035.

Norway led the ranking, with EVs already representing a majority of new car sales in the country, with significant financial incentives such as reduced tax rates and road tolls driving high EV adoption.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, and high availability of hydro-electric power enables the nation to both subsidise EVs, and provide cheap, clean power to fuel them.

The US lagged behind due to uncertainties caused by changes in attitudes towards EVs from different presidential administrations, and the ability of individual states to impose differing regulations.

Related