Thursday 5 January 2023

One third of all car sales in December were EVs

One third of all car sales in December were EVs

December saw another strong month for electric vehicle (EV) uptake across the UK.

That's according to the latest figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) which show that December saw battery electric vehicles (BEVs) claim their largest-ever monthly market share, nearly 32.9%.

The report also suggests that EVs comprised 16.6% of the registrations recorded throughout the year.

This increase meant that BEVs surpassed diesel for the first time to become the second most popular powertrain after petrol.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "The automotive market remains adrift of its pre-pandemic performance but could well buck wider economic trends by delivering significant growth in 2023.

"To secure that growth - which is increasingly zero emission growth - the government must help all drivers go electric and compel others to invest more rapidly in nationwide charging infrastructure."

Kim Royds, EV Director at British Gas, said: "The uptick of EV registrations was a bright light in a challenging year for the new car market in 2022.

"Record numbers of EVs entering the roads is proof that drivers are continuing to unlock the benefits of making the switch to electric as we accelerate the UK's journey towards net zero.

"To ensure that growth in the EV market is sustainable for the long term, we must look seriously at the country's charging network and its capacity to keep up with increasing demand.

"Ensuring everyone has access to suitable charging infrastructure is a critical milestone in the UK's electrification journey and expanding both at home and public charging infrastructure must remain a top priority."

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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