Renault 5 named UK’s best-selling electric car

The Renault 5 tops charts in UK sales

The multi-award-winning supermini recorded 1,805 registrations, ahead of the Kia EV3 on 1,691 and the Jaecoo E5 on 1,291, in figures reported by the Mirror.

The SMMT released its EV-specific list following a surge in demand, a promising sign for the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

Even so, the trade body cautioned that more must be done to encourage drivers to make the switch, with premium electric models still criticised for being expensive.

“July’s record EV performance is a great achievement, reflecting industry’s huge investment in zero emission mobility.

"But that progress cannot be sustained if manufacturers continue haemorrhaging billions in EV discounts,” SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said.

Hawes called for “urgent reform of the regulation”, warning that Britain risks undermining its competitiveness without it.

Motoring bodies echoed the point, arguing that stronger incentives and cheaper models are needed to sustain the surge, with plenty of advice for drivers already weighing rising running costs and patchy charging provision.