Everyone is talking about the rise of electric cars, as the electric car market grows, with approximately 420,000 pure electric cars on UK roads since the beginning of 2022, the consumer demand grows with it, but used cars in Northern Ireland aren’t a thing of the past just yet and the new era of the used electric boom lurks in the distance.
Carlover knows the demand for electric and hybrid cars, so to simplify the decision making process, we have compiled a profile list of electric car market statistics to help. In this article, we will discuss how electric transportation has seen a surge in use over the last few years.
When discussing electric vehicles, it is important to note that there are two main types of electric or plug-in vehicles included in this analysis; battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
The number of electric cars that were registered in the UK by February 2022 were more than 780,000 plug-in vehicles with approximately 420,000 BEVs and 360,000 PHEVs registered and on the road.
There are various reasons for the rise in electric transportation mainly being performance and range improvements, government support, advancements in technology and lower costs.
Performance & Range Improvements
Since the release of the first electric car, manufacturers have improved their manufacturing process and improved on the existing technology. As a result, these improvements have made electric vehicles that can travel further for longer just off one charge. As the performance of electric vehicles has improved, it’s no secret that electric vehicles are now becoming more in choice.
Government Support on Electric Cars
Governments have pressured car manufacturers by having a requirement for sales to be a particular percentage of electric vehicles. As a result there are more electric and hybrid vehicles entering the market.
Electric Advancements in Technology
Tesla, the American company, has changed many people’s opinion on electric transportation. As their vehicles have developed technological features such as self-driving capabilities and touch-screen interfaces, the expectation for electric cars has skyrocketed. Following Tesla’s successful business model, many manufacturers have started to produce electric vehicles with more futuristic capabilities.
Lower Cost of Running Electric Cars
As the cost of electric cars have been increasingly cheaper, they are now more accessible to the average consumer. Due to electric cars being available for some time now, buying a second-hand or used car is also becoming much cheaper.
What Are the UK’s Most Popular EV Models?
The top 15 ultra-low emission (ULEV) car registrations by model (UK) 2017-2020:
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Tesla Model 3
- Renault Zoe
- Nissan Leaf
- BMW i3
- Tesla Model S
- BMW 330e
- BMW 530e
- Mercedes Benz C 350 e
- Volkswagen Golf GTE
- Volvo XC90 Twin Engine
- Mini Countryman Cooper S E
- Volkswagen e-Golf
- Jaguar I-Pace
- Tesla Model X
Another key indicator to the size of the UK market for electric cars is the number of car types available. When electric vehicles were first introduced they covered four main types: city cars, small family cars, small vans and sports coup. Now there are more than 130 PHEV cars and vans available including large family cars, hatchbacks, SUVs, medium-sized vans and executive models. The rise of electric cars is far from over.
