September saw records broken for the largest amount of new electric vehicles sold in a month, according to new data, with Labour celebrating the impact of the new £650million Electric Car Grant.
New data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found that 72,779 new electric vehicles were registered in September, marking the highest ever monthly volume.
Further records were smashed when combining EV totals and hybrids (47,883) and plug-in hybrids (38,308), with September seeing electrified vehicles make up the majority of all vehicles sold.
September, which is historically one of the most successful times of the year for new car sales, along with March, saw almost 313,000 new cars registered, an impressive 13.7 per cent rise year-on-year.
Many drivers around the UK choose March and September to purchase a new car with the latest number plates, with March seeing the “25” identifier tag added, followed by “75” at the start of September.
Last month’s sales total helped push the UK to strong sales numbers not seen since September 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
The market share of new petrol and diesel cars also continues to shrink, with petrol making up 45.2 per cent of new cars, while diesel plummets to just four per cent.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “Electrified vehicles are powering market growth after a sluggish summer – and with record ZEV uptake, massive industry investment is paying off, despite demand still trailing ambition.”
READ MORE: Labour ‘delivers on promise’ with 35 eligible cars for EV grant – full list including Ford, Toyota & more
Electric vehicle sales soared in September as drivers made use of Labour’s Electric Car Grant
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Mr Hawes also praised the Government’s Electric Car Grant, which he said would “break down one of the barriers” preventing drivers from switching to electric vehicles.
He added that it would also unlock infrastructure investment and drive down energy costs, allowing more people to have the confidence to switch to a zero emission vehicle.
Further data from the Department for Transport shows that more than 20,000 drivers across the country have already made use of the Government’s Electric Car Grant, just months after it was announced.
The incentive scheme helps drivers save either £1,500 or £3,750 off the price of more than 35 eligible electric vehicles, provided they meet environmental standards set by Labour and cost less than £37,000.
Many popular brands are already included in the ECG, including Citroen, Renault and Toyota. While there are just two electric vehicles eligible for the highest £3,750 discount, they are also fan favourites.
In addition to the Ford e-Tourneo Courier, the Ford Puma Gen-E also benefits. The electric version of the UK’s most popular vehicle is now cheaper than the hybrid version, with drivers paying just £26,245.
Eligible vehicles included in the ECG make up around 25 per cent of available battery electric vehicles, with Carwow data showing a 540 per cent spike in interest for the Ford Puma Gen-E since it was included in the discount.
Eligible models have also seen a 118 per cent rise in enquiries, with Renault reporting that 35 per cent of UK drivers said they were more inclined to make the switch to an EV since the announcement of the grant scheme.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Our discounts have sparked a surge in electric car sales, making them cheaper and within reach of more households than ever before.
“By cutting costs for families we’re supporting industry, backing British jobs, and powering up growth – all part of delivering our Plan for Change.”
A range of vehicles were ranked in the 10 best-sellers for September, with the Kia Sportage (9,455) narrowly beating out the Ford Puma (8,310) and the Nissan Qashqai (7,218).
More recent entrants to the UK market are also having a major impact, with the Jaecoo 7 placing in fourth with 6,489 sales, the BYD Seal U (5,373) in sixth, and the MG HS (5,173) in eighth.