Pure-electric vehicle registrations in the UK achieved their third best month ever in October 2019 – and the highest total outside of a new registration plate month – according to the latest statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Pure-EV figures are up 152% compared to October 2018, and the fuel type is 133% ahead of the first ten months of 2018. More than 28,000 pure-electric models have been registered so far in 2019; over 54,000 plug-in vehicles when PHEVs are included in the figures.
Combined sales of electric cars – pure-EVs and plug-in hybrids – are 10% up on 2018 year-to-date, showcasing how well pure-electric models have performed this year, and the relative lack of registrations for PHEVs. Plug-in cars account for 2.7% of all models registered in 2019 so far, with pure-EVs accounting for a little over a half of that figure.
With new registration plates out in March and September, the two months traditionally record the greatest number of new cars sold across all fuel types. As such, for October 2019’s pure-electric registrations to be the next highest total after September’s figure of more than 7,700 and over 3,900 sales in March earlier this year, it represents a real show of strength for what is a fast-growing market.
Where 2018’s total combined electric vehicle market share – EV and PHEV – ended up on 2.5%, pure-electric models are approaching that figure on its own. The combined figure for 2019 to date is 2.7%, and the last 12 months show a share of 2.9%.
Average registrations for 2019 now stand at more than 2,800 for pure-EVs and a little over 2,600 for PHEVs. A combined figure of approaching 5,500 registrations a month for 2019 is around 500 units a month ahead of 2018’s total, and 2019’s figures are accelerating as the year goes on.
