The scale and pace of this transformation was on show at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) annual Test Day, where the latest fully electric and electrified models, from cars and vans to trucks and buses, were put through their paces.
Reflecting the growth in the wider market offering, seven in 10 vehicles available to test drive this year were electrified, while BEVs alone account for more than half.
Electric vehicles are now mainstream, accounting for two in five (40.9%) of available models, while a decade ao there were only 14 models available.
Britain’s motorists can choose from more than 167 BEV models – a 12-fold increase – across all vehicle segments. 51 brands in the UK offer battery electric models, up from 12 a decade ago. The average electric driving range now exceeds 300 miles, comfortably surpassing typical weekly mileage – around 127 miles – for most UK drivers.
Consumers can benefit from discounts and the Electric Car Grant, available on almost a third of BEV models. In addition, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) variants accounted for just 16.2% of available models in 2016, today they represent two in every five cars (42.3%).
In total, electrified powertrains, including BEVs, are now available in more than four in five models (83.6%), compared with less than one in five (19.8%) in 2016. Consumers have responded strongly, with zero emission car registrations rising from just 10,264 in 2016 to 473,346 last year, and from a 0.4% market share to 23.4%.
The shift is mirrored in falling tailpipe emissions, with 36.6 million tonnes of CO₂ saved since 2016 – equal to the annual carbon footprint of more than nine million homes.
Zero emission commercial vehicle model choice also increased almost 15-fold over the decade – rising from just five in 2016 to more than 78 today. Electric van choice has grown almost eight times over, while electric buses have more than tripled – with the UK holding the title as Europe’s biggest zero emission bus market.
Zero emission heavy goods vehicles – absent from the market a decade ago – have now emerged with more than 40 models available, supporting Britain’s journey to decarbonise road transport.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“Ten years ago, electric vehicles were a curiosity for many drivers. Today, they are a core part of the UK new car market, with unprecedented choice, longer battery range and growing consumer appetite.
“Massive manufacturer investment has delivered this progress, but continued government action to accelerate demand and support manufacturer investment is essential to keep the transition on track.”
Image courtesy of SMMT
