Seven minutes per sale for EVs
A new electric car was registered in the UK every seven minutes throughout 2019, making it the most successful year for EVs to date.
New 100 per cent electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered last year reached 72,834, representing a 21 per cent rise compared to 2018.
The end-of-year figure marks a continued trend, with fully electric cars accounting for more than half of the plug-in market, with 52 per cent of sales. This takes the number of all- electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered in the UK to date to 271,524.
Last year was also the eighth consecutive year of growth for the electric car market. This has in part been driven by an increase in the models available, with more than 50 for consumers and businesses to choose from.
Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “In the context of the wider new car market, it is encouraging to see plug-in car registrations continue to go from strength-to-strength. Looking at the year ahead, 2020 is set to be another fantastic year for electric car uptake.
“With even more new models being released, ongoing government support, as well as the continued expansion of the public charging infrastructure, we’re confident that the next 12 months will be a landmark year for the nation’s switch to electric,” said Welch.
Grant Shapps, transport secretary, said: “These record figures show the government’s world-leading £1.5bn programme encouraging people to switch to clean transport and improve air quality is working. I want 2020 to be the year electric cars go mainstream. That’s why we are doubling-down our efforts to make owning an electric vehicle the new normal.”
Andrea Leadsom, Business and Energy Secretary, added: “With transport accounting for more than a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions, making the switch to electric vehicles will not only clean up the air in our cities and town centres but will also help in our ambition to tackle global climate change. With a doubling in the number of fully electric cars being registered compared to the previous year, in 2019 more people than ever turned to electric vehicles.”
The continued growth of the EV market has also been accompanied by new charge points being installed in response to the increased demand. There are now more than 29,000 public charging connectors in the UK, making it one of Europe’s largest charging networks.
