Octopus consumer EV leasing orders up 89% and EV rentals rise

SPECIALIST EV leasing company Octopus EV says that drivers are switching to electric vehicles at record speed, while its public charging arm’s partnership with Europcar finds EV rental days have almost doubled.

Orders on Octopus EV’s consumer leasing offers (not including salary sacrifice orders) – both new and used EVs – increased by 89% in March 2026 vs February 2026. There was also the new registration plate change in March.

“Drivers are making the switch to electric faster than ever. An 89% jump in orders in a single month shows this isn’t a gradual shift anymore - it’s a tipping point. People are looking for certainty and control over their costs. Electric vehicles offer both."

Gurjeet Grewal, CEO, Octopus Electric Vehicles Tweet

Octopus Electric Vehicles: Top Five Most Popular EVs Q1 2026

Tesla Model Y
JAECOO 5
OMODA E5
MG MG4
Skoda Elroq

Octopus says that while models like the Tesla Model Y continue to lead the way, newer entrants such as the JAECOO 5 and OMODA E5 highlight growing consumer confidence in high-spec, competitively priced alternatives.

Europcar’s EV rental rise

Europcar Mobility Group UK reports that EVs accounted for nearly half a million rental days in 2025, an increase of 93% on the previous year.

Europcar’s EV fleet grew by 70% in 2025. It added new vehicles available to private motorists and business drivers including the Polestar 4 and 2, Hyundai Kona and BYD Seal U.

It also launched price parity for business rental of electric vehicles, and 86% of all EV rentals were for business drivers

Customers hiring an electric car or van from Europcar can now access over one million public chargers across the UK and Europe through Octopus’s charging app Electroverse.

“At Europcar we are on a mission to remove the 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.”

Christian Øien, Managing Director, Europcar Mobility Group UK Tweet