Despite the pandemic, more than twice the number of battery
electric vehicles have so far been sold this year compared to the
whole of 2019 while fewer than half the number of diesel cars
were sold this year, RAC analysis of new industry data shows.*
Between January and November 2020, figures from the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that 86,291 pure
electric cars were registered, up from 37,850 during the whole of
2019. Diesel sales, while still substantially higher, fell
sharply over the same period – down 58%, from 583,488 in 2019 to
just 246,389 so far this year.
Compared to November 2019, sales of battery electric cars more
than doubled last month – from 4,652 to 10,345 (122% increase).
Sales of battery electrics represented 5.8% of all vehicles
registered in 2020 compared to 1.6% last year. The RAC estimates
that since 2010 a total of 185,137 pure electric cars have been
registered for use on the UK’s roads, along with 223,384 plug-in
hybrid cars.
When looking at battery electric and plug-in hybrid sales
together, a similarly striking picture emerges. November saw more
plug-in electrified vehicles sold than diesel ones (18,062
compared to 15,925). This is the first month this has happened,
excluding April 2020 when dealer activity all but ceased as a
result of the first coronavirus restrictions.
RAC data insight spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We may well now be
reaching a watershed moment when it comes to new car sales in the
UK – taking the anomalous month of April aside when dealers were
forced to shut because of the pandemic, November saw more plug-in
cars registered than diesel cars. The rise in demand for plug-in
electrified vehicles appears to partly be taking place at petrol
and diesel’s expense, with the latter as a result of concerns
over harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions.
“As we move beyond the pandemic, 2021 is set to be a critically
important year when it comes to understanding the appetite
drivers have for ‘going electric’. With more electric cars coming
onto the market, it will be interesting to see if this rise in
sales will be sustained or whether the negative economic outlook
has the unfortunate effect of quelling demand.
“The rise in the number of battery electric cars on our roads is
also now beginning to translate into more breakdowns for our
patrols to deal with. Fortunately, we are well positioned to cope
with this demand as 80 of our patrol vans are now fitted with
lightweight mobile charging units for drivers who reach a faulty
charge point or who run out of charge for any other reason. In
the event an electric car or an SUV needs to be recovered, half
of all our patrol vans are equipped with our market-leading
‘all-wheels-up’ recovery system.”
Track the UK’s progress towards zero-emissions driving in charts
using the RAC’s
‘Road to Electric’ webpage.
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Source: www.smmt.co.uk/2020/12/english-lockdown-stalls-november-new-car-market-as-registrations-decline-27-4