One in five new cars bought are electric and 29% of sales are hybrid, the latest data from the New Automotive’s Electric Car Count suggests.
Meanwhile, the registration of both petrol and diesel cars fell to historic lows, accounting for the smallest share of new cars in any twelve-month period over the last 20 years.
In addition, the sale of electric vans grew by 13% compared with August last year, ahead of the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which will see manufacturers required to sell enough ZEVs to cover 10% of their van sales as well as 22% of their car sales by 2024.
New AutoMotive chief executive Ben Nelmes said: “It is great to see British motorists embracing clean cars in their thousands. Despite an unprecedented cost of living crisis and rising interest rates, demand for electric cars has remained resilient.”
“Motorists who go electric don’t look back: they tell us they love the cheaper running costs smoother driving experience and guilt-free travel.”
“The government should build on this progress by putting in place a strong California-style Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate to give car companies and EV charger installers certainty.”
“It is almost two years since this policy was first announced; ministers should stop dragging their feet and put it in law.”
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Greenpeace UK policy director Doug Parr added: “Electric cars are selling like hot cakes. However, with the government deciding to ‘side with motorists’, while pursuing an anti-green agenda, you have to wonder if ministers are ignoring these soaring sales and instead listening to the vested interests attempting to park EV’s growth,” said
“Sunak may say the 2030 petrol and diesel phase out date is immovable, but unless he brings in the overdue mandate on manufacturers to ramp up production in order to meet it, the deadline is likely to be missed.”
“Demand is clearly growing but, for the trajectory to continue, and for all motorists to be able to access the cheaper running costs that EVs bring, then prices must fall.”
“And for that to happen the government needs to capitalise on this public appetite and stop dragging its feet by finally introducing the regulation, while rapidly ramping up charging infrastructure.”
It comes amid a rapid rise in the sale of Chinese electric vehicles, with competition to build enough gigafactories to provide batteries and compete with the boom.
