Electric car sales have soared by an impressive 38 per cent in June as an increasing number of motorists transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Fresh data from New AutoMotive shows that 64,440 new electric cars were registered in June, accounting for a staggering 30 per cent of the total market share.
The research shows that drivers are attracted to new electric cars more prominently, potentially as a result of the soaring petrol and diesel prices seen in recent months as a result of the Iran war.
Impressive sales totals mean June marks one of the strongest months for electric vehicle sales on record, outside of regular spikes in December.
The Government’s Electric Car Grant has also helped boost EV registrations, as more than 120,000 British drivers have taken advantage of savings of up to £3,750.
When combined with plug-in hybrids, which captured 12.1 per cent of the market share, more than four in 10 new cars registered in the UK have a plug.
Electric cars now represent almost one-quarter (24.9 per cent) of new vehicles sold this year, with more than 287,000 electric cars joining the UK car parc.
Ben Nelmes, CEO at New AutoMotive, emphasised how the data showed that electric cars were “rapidly becoming the mainstream choice” for drivers across the country.
Drivers are increasingly turning to electric cars across the UK
|
GETTY
Tesla retains its position as having the highest market share of an electric car brand, with 10 per cent, followed by BYD, Kia, Ford and Volkswagen.
Despite this, MG saw the biggest growth in sales with an impressive 64 per cent jump, while Renault, BYD and Ford have all seen registrations rise by at least 50 per cent compared to the same time last year,
Of the established, legacy brands, Renault is electrifying the fastest, with 37 per cent of its registrations being electric.
Similarly, Citroen is now selling more battery electric vehicles than any other powertrain, representing more than two in five sales for the French manufacturer.
Tesla remains one of the most popular car brands in the UK for electric vehicles
|
TESLAGurjeet Grewal, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, highlighted how far EV sales had grown compared to a decade ago, when less than one per cent of people were opting for electric.
“EVs have gone mainstream because the case is clear: many new models are now at price parity with petrol cars, while second-hand EVs are often even cheaper,” he added.
This was echoed by Electric Vehicles UK CEO, Tanya Sinclair, who described EVs as the “mainstream”, noting that drivers had an ever-growing range of affordable and impressive electric cars to choose from.
She said: “For drivers, that means lower bills, fewer forecourt visits, and a smoother, quieter drive. Government just needs to align itself with the British motorist’s direction of travel – not certain carmakers’ lack of ambition – towards an electric future.”
Renault has seen strong success from its 4 and 5 models in recent months
|
RENAULTIt comes amid polarising discourse regarding the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which requires a certain level of sales to come from electric vehicles.
Some members of the industry have called for the targets to be eased, while others believe that natural demand will help automakers achieve goals, without the need for regulatory changes.
Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said: “Consumers are driving demand as they switch to EVs which are loaded with tech, better to drive, and save drivers money. Honestly, there’s never been a better time to make the switch; car manufacturers, take note!”
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, the electric car buying and advice site, concluded: “These figures show a car market that may finally be regaining the momentum it enjoyed before the pandemic, with EVs leading the charge.”