The latest UK electric car sales data shows that 2022 has already seen more electric cars bought than in the whole of 2020.
The number of diesel cars registered has remained at historic lows, accounting for around 1 in 10 new cars bought, while sales of petrol cars has not recovered since the pandemic, data from New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count (ECC) shows.
Since the government scrapped the plug-in car grant on 14th June, electric car sales have dropped slightly, with year-on-year total car registrations being down by 8% in July 2022.
“The UK can and should be targeting higher electric car sales to reduce motoring costs, wean ourselves off Russian diesel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a month that saw record-shattering temperatures, it’s disappointing that 60% of new cars bought are still fossil-fuelled,” said Ben Nelmes, co-founder and head of policy at New AutoMotive.
UK Market
Despite the impact of global supply chain disruptions and the cost-of-living crisis, electric car registrations continued to grow, accounting for 16% of the market nationally. The data showed that the top three manufacturers for EVs – Genesis, DS, and Cupra – are newcomers. Total UK car registrations were down by 26% from June 2021.
In terms of the market share, Hyundai secured the first position, as supply chain issues made their presence felt with VW, Kia, and MG experiencing significant year-on-year falls in their July EV sales.
Nelmes stressed that the next government should move at pace “to introduce a California-style ZEV mandate that boosts EV sales and reduces prices,” and to improve access to the growing second-hand EV market for car-dependent households.
The ZEV mandate is a system of legally binding targets that requires car and van manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emissions cars and vans as a proportion of all the cars and vans they sell. The scheme, which is currently being designed by the Department for Transport, will come into force in 2024.