Commenting on the latest vehicle licencing statistics released by
the Department for Transport today1, Edmund King, AA president says;
“New government vehicle licensing statistics show that power
continues to flow through to the electric vehicle revolution, with
3.7% of new car registrations now fully electric2.
“The covid crisis and lockdown’s impact on car dealerships
temporarily slowed down sales although the Tesla Model 3 was the
top-selling car in April and May. Government statistics released
to Parliament, showing the number of plug-in car grants and the
amounts given in grants per year, point to deliveries of electric
vehicles during the lockdown falling to 1.5% of the previous
level.
“In the last financial year, there were 46,561 payments
made for cars delivered in that period under
Plug-in car Grant Scheme. That totalled £267.4 million. But, up
until June, there were 113 payments for electric
cars delivered in the first two months of this
current financial year, totalling £8.4 million. That is a change
in number of payments from 3,880 a month to 56.5 a month.
“However, despite floating the idea of a scrappage scheme,
the Government now seems to have made a U-turn3 It might therefore take a
little longer for the switch to electric to surge into
over-drive.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/896203/vehicle-licensing-statistics-january-to-march-2020.pdf
2. First registration figures;
Total UK car registrations in Q1 2020; 491.6 thousand. Total UK
Full Battery Electric cars in Q1 2020; 18,290.
Calculation; 18,290 / 491,600 x 100 = 3.7%
Data taken from Tables VEH0150 and VEH0171 available
here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-january-to-march-2020
3. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/352302/exclusive-no-plans-new-uk-car-scrappage-scheme
