AA Cars reveals electric vehicle hotspots across the UK

• Demand for secondhand electric vehicles surged almost a fifth in 2020, and at twice that rate so far this year, despite the pandemic^[1], new analysis of drivers’ search behaviour on AA Cars has revealed
• London has highest number of searches in the UK, but Walsall has most searches per 100,000 people
• Taunton, Somerset, saw the biggest increase in searches last year — with interest rising 14 times (1,395%) compared to 2019^[2]

Interest in used electric vehicles (EVs) rose by almost 20% in 2020, despite the pandemic and the closure of car dealerships during lockdown periods^[1], new analysis by AA Cars, the AA’s used car website, has revealed.

Searches for EVs on the AA Cars platform have been growing steadily year after year, increasing 47 times (4,623%) since 2015. Interest in electric cars grew by 18.85% year-on-year in 2020.

Demand is set to increase by a further 42% during 2021, if the growth so far this year (up to 16 March) stays on course^[3]. As these searches were all carried out during lockdown, this figure could rise even higher as restrictions ease and people return to their normal car-buying habits.

The continued growth of the used EV market during 2020 reflects the surge in the new car market. Although overall sales of new cars fell by 29.4% in 2020, sales of EVs rose by 185.9%. EVs made up 6.6% of the total sales of new cars last year, increasing from a 1.6% market share in 2019^[4].

London had the highest number of searches for EVs in the country, likely due to its larger population and the upcoming extension of its Ultra Low Emission Zone. Londoners have made nearly 55,000 searches for EVs on the AA Cars alone site in the past two years.

It was followed by the UK’s other major cities, with Bristol recording the second highest number of searches for EVs in 2019 and 2020, followed by Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

Walsall was home to the most searches per 100,000 people in 2020, followed by Newcastle and Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

Towns and cities with the greatest number of searches for EVs per 100,000 people in 2020^[2]

The EV message is even getting through in more rural areas such as Taunton, Somerset, which saw the UK’s biggest increase in searches for used EVs on the AA Cars site last year. Drivers in Taunton made more than 2,200 searches for EVs in 2020, with interest up 14 times (1,395%) compared to the previous year. Searches increased by 453% in Kingston upon Hull and 315% in Coventry^[2].

Greatest increases in searches for EVs in UK towns and cities between 2019 and 2020^[2]

James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars comments: “Interest in EVs and environmentally friendly vehicles has been growing at pace over recent years and has accelerated further still during the pandemic.

“The good news for drivers taking their first steps towards buying an EV is that there is an ever-growing fleet of electric cars coming onto the secondhand market.

“It means there is more choice than ever before, and many affordable models available, with prices significantly lower than the cost of buying a brand new EV.

“Many secondhand EVs are nearly-new, often driven by someone for a couple of years under a car finance agreement, meaning they will still be within the manufacturers’ warranty period.

“It is recommended that drivers organise their own warranty for the car if it is outside the manufacturer warranty period. An AA Warranty, for example, offers unlimited claims up to the market value of the car, so drivers know they will always be covered if something goes wrong.

“We know drivers still have some questions about used EVs. For peace of mind, we recommend drivers always look for a car with a full service history, as this will mean it will have had all its software updates, and regular inspections. It is also important to have a vehicle inspected before purchase, to ensure there are no hidden defects which could prove costly down the road.

“The AA has also launched its Smart Lease, where drivers can lease a brand new EV, for a fixed price which includes servicing and maintenance, Vehicle Tax and VAT. This is a great introduction for anyone who wants to try an EV, but doesn’t want to commit to purchasing one outright.”

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Notes to editor

^[1]Analysis of searches for “electric” or “EV” on the AA Cars platform from June 2015 to March 16, 2021.

^[2]Analysis of searches for used cars on the AA Cars platform in 49 major towns and cities in the UK. Population data for England and Wales from ONS, and Scotland from National Records of Scotland.

^[3]Based on the number of searches for EVs made on the AA Cars platform in 2021, up to March 16, extrapolated to assume same number of searches over the rest of the year.

^[4]SMMT new car sales