EV demand surges 377.5%

A staggering rise of 377.5% for zero emission cars helped the UK new car market remain steady in August, with just 1,521 fewer cars registered than in the same month last year.

The SMMT has reported that registrations fell by 1.6% in what is typically one of the smallest months of the year. Falling demand for diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles continued to impact the overall market.

Registrations from both the private and fleet for the month, down 1.7% and 3.5% respectively, as demand in the small volume business segment increased by some 962 units. Meanwhile, diesel registrations fell for the 29th month in a row, though at a slower pace than recently experienced (12.2%), while petrol demand remained stable, up one per cent.

However, zero emission cars saw the biggest percentage growth, up 377.5%, to 3,147 units as new models and some pent up demand boosted registrations, while 4,014 hybrid electric cars also joined UK roads, an uplift of 36.2%. However, the decline in plug-in hybrid registrations continued, down 71.8% to just 907 vehicles. 

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, ‘August is typically 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.

‘While this is encouraging, these figures also show the scale of the challenge ahead. It’s a long road to zero and while manufacturers can deliver the technology, they can’t dictate the pace of uptake. To support a smooth transition and deliver environmental gains now, we need a long-term government commitment to measures that give consumers confidence to invest in the latest technologies that best suit their needs.’