Latest SMMT figures show market share for battery electric vehicles triples from 1.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent in two months
Sales of battery electric vehicles have increased by a staggering 377 per cent in the UK in August, the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed yesterday.
The latest data on new car registrations shows 3,147 battery electric cars were sold in the UK last month, compared to 659 during August 2018.
Added to gains made in July, EVs logged a tripling of market share in the new car market, jumping from 1.1 per cent of new sales in June 2019 to 3.4 per cent in August.
Mike Hawes, the chief executive of SMMT, said August is usually the new car market's quietest month, "so the huge increase in EV registrations is very visible but especially welcome." "It's great to see consumers respond to the massive industry investment made over many years," he said.
THREAD
— Simon Evans (@DrSimEvans) September 5, 2019
Battery electric vehicles have just recorded an absolutely stunning increase in their share of the UK market, which has tripled in two months to 3.4%, after 3+ yrs below 1%
HT @colinmckerrache for flagging and @SMMT for data pic.twitter.com/OZkXGqL5Qf
The surge in demand for electric vehicles came alongside continued declines for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which were down 71 per cent compared to the same period a year ago. The market for PHEVs has declined since the government cut subsidies for them in October 2018.
Meanwhile, total sales of new cars fell 1.6 per cent, as falling diesel sales continued to act as a drag on the market.
Carbon Brief analysis of SMMT data suggested in the last three years annualised EV sales have more than doubled, while diesel sales have halved.
Some analysts suggested a surge in delayed deliveries of the Tesla Model 3 contributed to the August spike in registrations - SMMT doesn't track the specific number of Teslas registered, but the number of cars listed under "Other Imports" spiked to 2,293 in August.
But Hawes warned EVs are still commanding a low market share, with a long way to go before they become the default choice for buyers. "It's a long road to zero and while manufacturers can deliver the technology, they can't dictate the pace of uptake," he said. He called on the government to provide "long term commitment" to measures encouraging customers to switch to electric cars.