Electric car sales are on the rise. 

Some 473,348 were sold last year – a 23.9 per cent increase over 2024 – meaning there are now some 1.8 million in use on UK roads today.

And there are particular EVs that are driving this growth. 

Tesla's Model Y was again the most popular pure-electric car in Britain last year, as 24,298 units of the SUV were delivered to customers. 

And cheaper small models – like the Renault 5 – are now starting to generate a cult following among private buyers.

However, not every EV has experienced this level of success. In fact, some have failed to gain traction at all, with buyers ambivalent at best, and left cold at worst.

We’ve rounded up three EVs that have experienced a royal sales flop in recent years and been axed from showrooms prematurely due to a lack of demand.

Honda e

Axed after 4 years 

Honda's 'e' was the Japanese brand's first UK-available EV. When it launched in 2020, the production car was stylistically so close to the company's cracking Urban EV concept car revealed three years earlier that the industry predicted big demand.

But that's not how it has worked out.

The Honda e was removed from sale just three years after it debuted in 2023 due to poor sales. And for one very good reason...

While people praised its cute futuristic looks and high-tech interior, it didn't gain traction with buyers, as fewer than 4,000 examples were sold each year across Europe due to its comparatively limited battery range.

At an official 137 miles, it fell horribly short of rivals. In winter months, the reality of the distance between charges was closer to 70 miles.

For a small EV with a £32,000 to £37,000 price tag, it didn't make practical sense to many drivers.

GWM Ora 03

Axed after 4 years 

Great Wall Motors is one of the biggest names in China. However, in the UK, it is still a relative unknown having failed to make a huge impact on the market yet.

Its first car sold in Britain was the Ora Funky Cat, which launched in November 2022. A year later, the awful nameplate was changed to the Ora 03 in an effort to kickstart sales.

However, the name change didn't help the electric hatchback fly off the shelves, or to bring in sales success for GWM.

GWM wasn't a Chinese winner last year, as it saw a drop of 53.3 per cent in sales to just 542 registrations – which the poor sales of the Ora 03 played a part in.

GWM's UK importer, International Motors’ 542 examples compare to around 9,000 MG4 EVs registered in 2025.

As such, the Ora 03 has now been ditched, with only stock new models available in the UK. 

The future of the GWM Ora was thrown into doubt after the EV maker announced the hatchback would no longer be made in Thailand for the Australian market, and now bosses confirm it will be phased out as part of plans to overhaul its European strategy.

Lexus UX 300e

Axed after 5 years 

Lexus' inaugural EV has found itself on the rubbish heap of cars.

It was the brand's first ever pure-electric Lexus. But after five years on sale, it has now been axed. Confirmation of the news arrived last month, after the model went missing from Lexus' website.

A spokesman confirmed to Auto Express that the electric UX was 'removed from sale in late-2025' but gave no reason for its disappearance. However, poor sales are likely to be the reason. 

The website ‘How Many Left?’ suggests fewer than 3,400 UX 300es have been registered since 2021. Part of the UX 300e's problem was that it only managed 186 miles of range and couldn't CCS charge, making it out of date with its CHAdeMO charge connector.

The hybrid model is still on sale, but with the electric version gone the only option for Lexus buyers wanting an EV is the RZ SUV.

Starting from £48,365 it is bigger and more expensive than the UX was, but offers considerably more range and faster charging.