EV Sales Continue to Soar in 2019
More than twice as many full electric cars have been registered so far in 2019 than the equivalent figure for this time last year.
Despite data indicating a mixed bag of overall car registrations for both the month and the year to date, according to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) monthly report, figures for all types of electric cars and hybrids remain strong.
Figures paint a bleak picture for the new car market as a whole; year-to-date numbers show a 48,549 decrease in the amount of cars registered in comparison to this time last year. Of course, the SMMT put much of this down to Brexit uncertainties.
In the year-to-date total car sales suffered a 2.5 per cent decrease, including a 20.6 per cent decrease in diesel registrations – the 30th monthly drop in a row as more drivers continue to be aware of the effects of car emissions on the environment.
Despite this, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to weather this market downturn, exhibiting a staggering 236.4 per cent increase in registrations compared to 12 months ago. They increased by 5,414 when compared to September last year, suggesting a progressive and positive outlook for the alternatively fuelled car market.
When looking at the figures for September, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also displayed an increase; 953 more were sold this year – a respectable 26.2 per cent rise.
There were 105 more hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) registered last month, compared to September 2018’s records – a 15.35 per cent increase, which rounds off the positive outlook for alternatively fuelled vehicles well.
The increase of sales in electric cars comes with a growing awareness of zero per cent Benefit in Kind tax on pure electric vehicles for company car drivers from April 2020 and significant reductions for hybrids. This has positively impacted the sector and goes some way towards quelling the anxieties and accessibility issues associated with owning an EV.
Our Managing Director Richard Jones said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see EV and hybrid registrations rise significantly for the third month in a row.
“It suggests that more people are feeling comfortable making the switch and, with alternatively fuelled vehicles becoming increasingly affordable, more people are now aware of the benefits of owning an electric vehicle.
“Across Lincolnshire, EV Camel is supporting this increase by making the charging process associated with an electric vehicle more convenient and accessible.
“Most recently we have installed charge points at Anderby Beach Café, the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln and the Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth.
“We hope that drivers in Lincolnshire will eventually be able to access an EV charge point as easily as they would a petrol station.
“This is important to our whole economy, particularly to support tourism in Lincolnshire as it continues to boom; new figures have shown Lincolnshire’s visitor economy to be worth 62 per cent more than it was 10 years ago, hitting an impressive £1.58 billion in 2018.
“Providing the framework to ensure that EV drivers have the necessary equipment and support for their journeys is now more vital than ever – especially across our rural county.
“The SMMT report for September is encouraging; it’s always exciting to see more people attracted to the increasing numbers of EVs and hybrids that we are now seeing on our streets.”