Electric is Fastest Growing Fuel Type Among Consumers

In recent years, there has been a huge surge in demand for electric vehicles in the UK. New registrations of plug-in cars have risen astronomically, increasing from 3,500 in 2013, to more than 220,000 by the end of June 2019.

According to the latest Consumer Insight Panel survey by Motors.co.uk, 10 per cent of consumers surveyed said they expect to buy an electric vehicle (EV) as their next purchase – twice as many as when the research was last conducted, in August 2018.

Similarly, hybrid vehicles, which are partially electric, are now a more popular choice than diesel; 19.9 per cent of consumers say they expect their next purchase to be a hybrid.

Although the data shows that petrol remains the most popular fuel choice for more than half (52 per cent) of the consumers asked, it is obvious that motorists are becoming increasingly conscious of their impact on the environment.

With almost six in 10 new car registrations in the UK being fleet vehicles, the government is also pushing for lower emissions rates for workers using fleet cars.

HM Treasury recently confirmed that those who choose pure electric car models for fleet cars will pay zero company car tax and zero benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax for the year from April 2020 onwards.

This is a clear attempt to encourage more companies in the UK to make the switch to electric vehicles. HM Treasury representatives have said that “by providing future clarity in the appropriate percentages, businesses will have the ability to make more informed decisions about how they make the transition to zero emission fleets”.

Going electric is becoming increasingly accessible as several manufacturers are investing in low-emission alternatives. There are now over 350 models available to car buyers in the UK, including 44 plug-in electrics.

Jaguar Land Rover, which built 30 per cent of the UK’s 1.5 million cars last year, announced in July that it is to make a multimillion-pound investment in the electric vehicles sector in Britain, in a bid to expand their offering to cater for the increasingly electric age.

Chief Executive Ralf Speth said: “The future of mobility is electric and, as a visionary British company, we are committed to making our next generation of zero-emission vehicles in the UK.”

The major car company will be manufacturing a range of electric vehicles at its plant in Castle Bromwich, and the first of the range will be the XJ – a luxury saloon car.

While this all points towards a much greener future, one of the biggest barriers to making the switch for many motorists is the country’s limited charging infrastructure, which is where EV Camel can help.

In 2017, Lincolnshire had one of the lowest numbers of charging points across the UK. It’s our mission to put the county at the forefront of hybrid and electric car usage, and we’re well on the way to achieving that.

As well as installing charging points at people’s homes, we’re also working with businesses who are keen to offer electric vehicle charging for their staff and customers.

To find out more, read our latest case study or call and speak to a member of the team on 01522 412312.