Electric car registrations took a record market share in August, making up 4.2% of total UK car sales and smashing the previous record of 2.9% set last December.
Just under 4,000 plug-in vehicles were registered last month, made up of more than 3,300 PHEVs and over 650 pure-EVs. That’s compared to an overall figure of a little over 94,000 vehicles sold, according to the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) figures.
August’s total plug-in car registrations are up 135% compared to last year’s figure, though PHEVs continue to dominate the electric car market in the UK. After August’s figures, PHEVs make up 69% of the plug-in market mix.
Plug-in car grant eligible models performed better than in recent months, with 90% of electric vehicles registered coming with the OLEV grant. The previous three months have seen that figure in the 80s – though most plug-in models ineligible for funding are disqualified because of cost, rather than emissions or electric driving range.
Pure-electric registrations were up more than a third compared to last August, and PHEV sales increased by more than 170%.
Alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs)- including conventional hybrids with EVs- saw market share rise from 5.2% in August 2017, to 8% this year. That’s against a backdrop of diesel sales continuing to drop sharply, now making up less than 30% of new cars sold in the UK in August 2018. Petrol has benefitted alongside AFVs, now at 62% of new registrations.
August is traditionally a month where new car registrations suffer since, like February, it comes just before a new registration plate. Many buyers opt to hold off for a few weeks to make sure their new car has the latest number plate.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “It’s great to see such strong growth, particularly in the important electric vehicle market. However, given August is always a small month in new car registrations ahead of the important plate-change month of September, it would be wrong to view the market as booming.
“Indeed, this past month has seen some significant variances as regulatory changes have disrupted some supplies. In the long term, however, the new emissions certification test will give consumers renewed confidence in the performance of all vehicles, helping them choose the latest, cleanest technology that best suits their driving needs, whether that be petrol, diesel, hybrid or plug-in.”
Find out more about electric cars at Zap-Map’s EV Charging Guides
Tables courtesy of SMMT
