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Share of EVs on the road increasing, but overall car numbers down, SMMT reports
Date: 31 May 2022 | Author: Sean Keywood
The number of EVs on UK roads increased by 71% during 2021, according to newly-published figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
However, the overall number of cars in use fell by 0.2%, marking the second consecutive year of decline - the first time this had been seen for over a century.
The vast majority of EVs on the road are cars - however, they still only account for one in 50 cars in use, showing the scale of change still needed for mass electrification.
The SMMT's figures also show the importance of the fleet market to electrification, with 58.8% of EVs registered to companies.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "Britain's switch to electric vehicles continues to gather pace, with a record one in five new car registrations now plug-ins. However, they still represent around one in 50 cars on the road, so there is significant ground to cover if we are to fully decarbonise road transport at pace.
"The first consecutive annual fall in vehicle numbers in more than a century shows how significantly the pandemic has impacted the industry, leading Britons to hold onto their cars for longer.
"With fleet renewal essential to net zero, we must build consumer confidence in the economy and, for drivers, confidence in the charging infrastructure to get the transition into top gear."
