Electric vehicle sales in UK were greater than diesel-fuelled cars for the first time last month. EV market share is now the highest recorded as one in three new car sales were electric in December with sales of petrol-fuelled cars falling below 40 per cent, according to latest industry figures.
Pure electric cars are now the second most popular vehicle types with one in three new car registrations in December for an electric vehicle. Sales of diesel have cars declined while hybrid vehicles maintain a 23 per cent market share.
“For electric vehicles to account for over 1 in 3 new car sales in December is seriously impressive, suggesting that drivers are increasingly attracted by the benefits that come from EV ownership,” said Colin Walker, transport lead at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. “ECIU’s own analysis has found that EVs remain three times cheaper to fuel than their petrol equivalents, and allow owners to save thousands of pounds in ownership costs over the course of a vehicle’s lifetime.
“Rather than being a flash in the fan, this impressive growth in electric vehicles uptake needs to become the norm. The Government could achieve this by setting car manufacturers ambitious targets for the percentage of new cars that they sell that are electric – otherwise known as a ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) Mandate.
“Current Government proposals for a mandate would require 22 per cent of new cars sold in 2024 to be electric – but since sales are already far past this point, this target will need to be strengthened significantly to have any impact.
“An ambitious mandate provides markets with clarity – incentivising companies to roll out the charging infrastructure that drivers need and invest in the supply chain, such as battery factories, that the UK requires if it is to avoid losing its status as a major car manufacturer.
“A mandate would also speed up the development of a healthy second-hand car market, ensuring that the benefits and savings that come from EV ownership are made accessible to lower-income households”.
