SMMT Report Shows EV Surge for August

 In News

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) released its monthly report last Thursday (5th September), and data indicates a positive trend in the electric vehicle (EV) market in August 2019.

Data released by the SMMT suggests a spike in the popularity of EVs, hybrid vehicles and EV mix vehicles, as more drivers appear to be conscious of their impact on the environment.

A positive picture was painted for alternatively fuelled vehicles, as zero emission cars saw the strongest percentage of growth on record, up by an impressive 377.5 per cent with 3,147 units registered last month.

More hybrid electric models took to the roads of the UK in the month of August: there were 4,014 car registrations in the hybrid electric field – an uplift of 36.2 per cent.

The increase in electric and combination-electric vehicles has been linked to recent updates in the carbon-efficient car market, including the MG ZS EV, MG’s first foray into the electric car market, which offers consumers up to 163 miles of eco-friendly driving, on just a single charge.

While EV and hybrid demand increased, diesel registrations experienced the expected slump, falling for the 29th month in a row, while demand for petrol cars remained relatively stable, up by 1.0 per cent.

The positive market change suggests an optimistic future for the EV market, during a time in which local authorities are increasingly conscious of the impact carbon emissions are having on the environment.

The City of Lincoln Council recently became the first local authority in Lincolnshire to declare a climate emergency in a bid to push carbon-friendly alternatives and encourage drivers to be conscious of their carbon footprint and drive cleaner, greener vehicles.

Richard Jones, Chartered Surveyor and CEO of leading EV charge point installer EV Camel, commented: “The monumental increase in EV registrations is hugely encouraging for the market positioning of electric vehicles in the UK.

“The demand for EVs in Lincolnshire is always on the rise, and demand for charge points is increasing with it – as it becomes more convenient and accessible for drivers to recharge their vehicles, fewer drivers will feel anxious about making the switch to electric.

“We’ve been successful so far in our work to make EV charge points available to drivers across Lincolnshire: we recently installed a charge point at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, which is available for visitors to use.

“The spike in registrations comes at a time when the UK car market is especially slow, so to see that EVs are resisting seasonal market pressures is hugely encouraging.

“We’re excited to see where the next few months take the EV market, but there is certainly still a lot of work to do in allaying the anxieties and uncertainties associated with buying an alternatively fuelled vehicle.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, commented on the market boom in EVs: “August is typically the new car market’s quietest month so the huge increase in EV registrations is very visible but especially welcome. It’s great to see consumers respond to the massive industry investment made over many years.”

The SMMT forecasts 51,000 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations in 2020, and 52,000 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (BHEV) registrations in 2020, so the demand for charge points is set to rise throughout the coming months.