Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the UK have reached a seven-year peak, driven by a significant increase in demand and a wider selection of available models. Despite this surge, the number of new electric cars registered still falls short of the government's mandated targets.
In June, 213,166 new cars were registered, marking an 11.4 percent increase compared to the same month last year and achieving the best June performance since 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Pure battery electric cars accounted for 30 percent of these sales, up from 24.8 percent a year prior. Overall, electrified models comprised over half of all new car registrations.
The SMMT has described the sales figures as 'significant,' but its chief executive, Mike Hawes, has cautioned that the industry does not believe the government's targets are achievable. He has called for an immediate review of the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires 33 percent of each manufacturer's car sales to be fully electric this year, escalating to 80 percent by 2030.
"Manufacturers are investing billions developing and bringing the vehicles to market – and spending billions more to sell them – yet the market is still not moving fast enough," Hawes stated. "Reforming the mandate now is essential not just to keep the transition on track, but to protect the UK’s competitiveness, attract investment and safeguard jobs."
Factors contributing to the increased demand include rising fuel prices, reportedly influenced by geopolitical conflicts, and an expanding range of new EV models. A notable contributor to June's sales figures was a large delivery of Tesla vehicles, with 12,200 units registered, representing approximately one-fifth of all EV registrations for the month.
For the first half of the year, pure battery-powered cars captured a record 25 percent of the market. However, this is still considerably below the 33 percent target. To meet the annual target, electric vehicle sales would need to represent more than 40 percent of the total market for the remainder of the year. An SMMT spokesperson noted that "despite more choice, uptake is still not rising fast enough."