The general public are set to stop buying petrol and diesel cars even before the current UK Government 2030 deadline, new research has suggested.
Data from Electric Car Count now shows petrol car registrations dropped by around 8% of market share in July, as electric car registrations grew by 90%. After 2030 sales of only hybrid or fully electric cars will be permitted.
The news shows a continual long-term decline in the popularity of petrol since 2019, when they accounted for 65% of all new cars. Registrations of diesel cars have collapsed from their peak of 50% in 2016.
New AutoMotive now forecasts on current trends, consumers will effectively end the sale of petrol and diesel cars at around 2028-29. Competitive leasing deals on electric cars are likely to have driven the 90% jump in electric car registrations in July, supported by charging availability improving rapidly. ZapMap reported that the number of ultra-rapid charge points almost doubled in the 12 months to July 2023.
These development are likely to be behind growing consumer confidence appetite in switching to electric with 54% of drivers now saying that they are considering the transition.
Ben Nelmes, Chief Executive at New AutoMotive, said: “Debate about the government’s 2030 target is starting to look academic. Consumers have all but ended the sale of diesel cars already, and are increasingly shunning petrol cars.
“Remarkably, despite a recovery in the car market, sales of petrol cars remain in a long term decline, and are still around half of their pre-pandemic peak. Consumers are voting with their wallets and showing that they prefer to go electric.
“The biggest thing preventing more people getting in an electric car remains the supply of vehicles – Ministers can fix this by introducing an ambitious ZEV mandate that starts in 2024.”
