Plug-in vehicle market continues to rise, accounting for 13.8% of new car registrations in 2021.
Uptake was in line with the most recent industry outlook, published in April, which sees the sector anticipating around 1.86 million registrations by the end of the year – with 723,845 achieved so far.
Plug-in vehicles now comprise 13.8% of new car registrations, up from 7.2% a year earlier, with the most rapid growth seen in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) derivatives.
Pure petrol and mild hybrid petrol cars so far account for 60.4% of registrations, while pure diesel and mild hybrid diesels took a 18.0% share year to date, compared to 64.6% and 22.4% last year.
Dual purpose vehicles saw a small decline in market share, leapfrogged by lower medium cars which rose to 27.8%, superminis remained Britain’s most popular car choice, with a 31.1% share.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “Increased business confidence is driving the recovery, something that needs to be maintained and translated in private consumer demand as the economy emerges from pandemic support measures.
“Demand for electrified vehicles is helping encourage people into showrooms, but for these technologies to surpass their fossil-fuelled equivalents, a long term strategy for market transition and infrastructure investment is required.”
RAC spokesman, Simon Williams, said: “May was a very significant month for the sale of battery electric cars as the 13,120 sold took the total number registered since 2010 past the 250,000 milestone. So far this year the number of pure electric cars sold has already surpassed that of 2019 and is half the total sold last year.
“This is a clear sign that drivers are embracing electric and with fewer restrictions it looks like even better BEV sales figures will be posted in the coming months.
“With more and more of our patrol vans being kitted out with our industry-leading lightweight EV chargers fears about running out of juice mid-journey are fast disappearing which should give even more drivers the confidence to make the switch to electric.”
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