Pure electric vehicle (EV) registrations almost tripled in July, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed.
The statistics released today (5 August) show their market share more than doubled year-on-year to 1.4 per cent – the highest monthly figure on record.
In total 2,271 pure EVs were registered, compared to the previous July’s figure of 880.
Hybrid EV registrations increased by 34.2 per cent, with 7,758 of the low-emissions vehicles hitting UK roads over the course of the month.
Plug-in hybrids, meanwhile, continued their recent decline. Registrations were down 49.6 per cent at 1,764, compared to 3,503 during the same period in 2018.
According to SMMT, there are currently more than 350 low-emission models in the UK – around 80 of them alternatively fuelled, including 21 battery electric options.
The society forecasts that investment in alternatively fueled vehicles will result in battery EVs doubling their market share next year, with 51,000 registrations in 2020.
However, this would still represent just 2.2 per cent of the overall market.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Despite yet another month of decline in the new car market, it’s encouraging to see substantial growth in zero emission vehicles.
“Thanks to manufacturers’ investment in these new technologies over many years, these cars are coming to market in greater numbers than ever before.
“If the UK is to meet its environmental ambitions, however, government must create the right conditions to drive uptake, including long-term incentives and investment in infrastructure.
“The fastest way to address air quality concerns is through fleet renewal so buyers need to be given the confidence to invest in the new, cleaner vehicles that best suit their driving needs, regardless of how they are powered.”
In its “Road to Zero” paper, published last year, the Department for Transport set out its next steps for implementing the government’s pledge to phase out the sale of diesel and petrol cars, vans and motorcycles by 2040.
The target, which was announced in the government’s air pollution strategy two years ago, applies to all road transport except for heavy good vehicles.
Responding to the figures Daniel Brown, EV lead at the Renewable Energy Association (REA), said: “The government is right to prioritise their funding for battery EVs in their recent changes to the grant scheme and it is excellent to see continued strong consumer demand for them.
“Whilst this surge in battery EV deployment is positive, with registrations now at 1.4 per cent of new car sales there is still a long way to go to achieve the prime minister’s vision for the UK to ‘be the home of electric vehicles’ and the government’s targets for every new car and van to be effectively zero emission by 2040.
“Continued and clear policy support now and into the mid-2020s will be central to this.”