Europcar Mobility Group UK has reported a landmark year for sustainable travel, with full battery electric vehicle (BEV) rentals soaring by 93% in 2025 to reach nearly half a million rental days.

The momentum also shows no sign of slowing, with the firm reporting that EV rentals in Q1 2026 are already 139% ahead of the same period last year.

The mobility specialist said zero-tailpipe emissions rentals have been boosted by its larger electric fleet along with robust support for new EV drivers and improving sentiment among sceptics.

Europcar’s EV fleet grew by 70% in 2025 and electric vehicles now make up 15% of its fleet.

The firm’s data also shows that business drivers lead the charge for EV rentals, accounting for 86% of bookings in 2025.

And driver satisfaction with EVs continued to soar. NPS (Net Promoter Score) figures, which are used to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction, were 10% higher than for ICE vehicles.

Of total EV demand, Standard EV was the most popular category (31%), followed by Compact EV (23%) and Compact SUV EV (18%).

Christian Øien, managing director of Europcar Mobility Group UK, said the company was on a mission to remove barriers that hold motorists back from choosing environmentally friendly vehicles.

“From creating dedicated self-help resources such as our EV Guide to providing detailed vehicle handovers for EV newbies, we are extremely proud of the progress we have already made and the positive impact it has had on customer confidence in electric driving. Not only have we seen a significant increase in EV rentals year-on-year; we have also achieved NPS scores for electric vehicles that are 10% higher than for petrol and diesel vehicles.”

Europcar is committed to providing motorists with a wide range of zero and low emissions vehicles to suit every journey.

In 2025, the firm sustained its pledge to building its EV fleet with the addition of a number of BEV and PHEV models. New vehicles added to its rental fleet for private motorists and business drivers included the Polestar 4 and 2, Hyundai Kona and BYD Seal U. Europcar also launched price parity for business rental of electric vehicles, removing the cost barrier that has previously held back many fleets from switching to zero-emissions vehicles.

To eliminate range anxiety, Europcar has partnered with Octopus Electroverse, giving renters access to over one million public chargers across the UK and Europe. Integrated into the Europcar EV Guide, the Electroverse app simplifies charging for newcomers with an award-winning interface and a smart route planner that identifies the most efficient charging stops.

With EV rentals in Q1 already far ahead of the same period last year, Christian Øien added: “We are already well-positioned for another landmark year for EV adoption, but that has not tempered our ambition. We have more exciting plans in the pipeline to encourage even greater EV take-up and to remove more barriers and concerns about switching to electric mobility.”