New data reveals which profession is most likely to buy an electric vehicle
Our new findings show which professions are most inclined to purchase EVs and where these buyers are located across the UK.
26th November 2025New data has revealed the professionals who are most likely to buy electric cars.
Many drivers have made the switch to electric in recent years, with many incentives and grants in place to support them on their journey.
For example, many companies across the UK offer their employees the chance to go electric with salary sacrifice schemes.
Meanwhile, the UK Government is also encouraging EV buying with their Electric Car Grant.
Electric vehicle sales by profession
Arnold Clark found that 17% of our customers who bought an EV last year were managers or directors of a company.
Teachers were second on the list, making up 5% of drivers buying electric cars from Arnold Clark in 2024.
Nurses, police officers and engineers were all tied at around 3%.
Electric vehicle sales by location
The data also found that a quarter of our EV sales in 2024 were to customers in the south of England.
Meanwhile, only 4% of the total sales were to customers based in the north-west of Scotland.
It’s perhaps no surprise that the majority of EV customers were located in the south of the UK, considering London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and congestion charge regulations.
At the moment, fully electric vehicles are exempt from the charges in Clean Air Zones (CAZs) and can drive in these zones without incurring a fee.
Looking at sales in Scotland, it was revealed most customers were based in the southeast of the country, in places like Edinburgh.
However, this doesn't mean that Scottish drivers aren't embracing EVs.
As of March 2024, there were 34,254 fully electric vehicles registered among the approximately 2.4 million private cars in Scotland, representing 1.4% of all privately registered cars.
Additionally, considering company-owned EVs, the total number of EVs on Scottish roads is higher.
Meanwhile, the average age of a customer who had purchased an EV from Arnold Clark in the last 12 months was 46. In comparison, the average age of an Arnold Clark customer who purchased a petrol or diesel car was 44.
Recently, the costs of buying second-hand electric cars have significantly fallen. With an increased supply of electric cars in the UK, there are now many used EVs available at more affordable prices.
Some of the best electric cars are now the same price or cheaper than their internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalents. This means that you can get excellent prices on many different EVs, including high spec second-hand models.
I’ve been lucky enough to drive some of the best EVs currently on the market and review them for the Arnold Clark YouTube channel.
And let me tell you, EVs are taking over and are here to stay. Some of my favourites have been the Renault 5 and Kia EV9, two very different cars, but both great electric options.
I’ve found that electric cars are really fun to drive and have loads of fun tech.
Some drivers may have range anxiety, but I’ve been impressed with the range offered on most EVs and, of course, that’s only going to improve in the future.’
Why are professions pushing for electrification?
The National Health Service (NHS), like many companies and councils in the UK, is encouraging their workers to go electric for a number of reasons.
As part of the NHS Net Zero Plan, which aims to make the NHS the world’s first net-zero health system by 2045, employees are being supported when making the switch to an EV.
While supporting a wider climate strategy, EVs can offer individuals lower commuting costs and cleaner travel.
Companies and businesses are also investing in charging infrastructure at workplaces, which can also include free or discounted charging and priority parking for EV drivers.
For employees who take work vehicles home (like social care workers), some councils help install home chargers or reimburse part of the electricity cost.
Arnold Clark Charge – our ultra-rapid EV charging network
The good news for EV drivers from us is that our UK-wide, ultra-rapid EV charging network, Arnold Clark Charge, is open to the public.
There are currently more than 50 Arnold Clark Charge hubs up and running across the UK, with work well underway on more charging locations.
There will be up to eight rapid chargers provided at these hubs, with the ability to charge up to 150kW.
Drivers will also be able to enjoy great-value, ultra-rapid charging at a rate of 55p/kWh.
Learn more about Arnold Clark Charge