BATTERY electric vehicle registrations are up 151.8%, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
In their October 2019 report, SMMT outlines the soaring numbers regarding registration of new electric vehicles in the UK.
Hybrid electric cars increased by a ‘considerable’ +28.9%, with 7,950 leaving showrooms, as battery electric vehicle registrations almost tripled, up +151.8% to 3,162 units.
Plug-in hybrids, however, fell just short of their positive performance in the same month last year, down -1.7%.
Combined, alternatively fuelled vehicle registrations reached 9.9% market share in the month – the highest on record, up from 6.9% last year.
Year to date, the new car market remains in decline, down -2.9% on the first 10 months of 2018.
Registrations of diesel cars fell for the 31st month, down 28.3%, while petrols also declined, by 3.2%.
Green Car Guide’s interpretation of this is that it seems ‘very clear that pure electric cars are the way forward.’
Overall, UK new car registrations declined 6.7% last month; 10,348 fewer cars were registered than in October last year.
The fall reflects continued uncertainty over diesel and clean air zones, stunted economic growth and uncertainty over Brexit, the SMMT report explains.
“The growth in alternatively fuelled cars is very welcome, showing increasing buyer appetite for these new technologies. The overall market remains tough, however, with October now the year’s eighth month of decline and in need of an injection of confidence”, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said.
“Whether the general election delivers a ‘bounce’ to the economy remains to be seen but, with attractive deals and an ever-greater choice of low, ultra low and zero emission models arriving in the UK’s showrooms, consumers have every incentive to consider buying a new car.”
