Battery electric vehicles outsold diesel for the first time ever in 2022.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, EVs comprised 16.6% of all new registrations last year after claiming their largest ever monthly market share in December (32.9%).
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) accounted for 6.3% of all new registrations during the year, meaning that all plug-in vehicles accounted for 22.9% of new vehicle sales.
Meanwhile, the UK new car market recorded its fifth consecutive month of growth in December, with an 18.3% increase to reach 128,462 units. However, strong second-half figures failed to offset a poor first half with overall registrations down two per cent to 1.61 million, which is around 700,000 units below pre-Covid levels.
The SMMT has also revealed that UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations reached 282,139 units in 2022, a decline of 20.6%, although deliveries for electric vans were up 31.2% to 16,744 units.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The automotive market remains adrift of its pre-pandemic performance but could well buck wider economic trends by delivering significant growth in 2023. To secure that growth – which is increasingly zero emission growth – government must help all drivers go electric and compel others to invest more rapidly in nationwide charging infrastructure.
“Manufacturers’ innovation and commitment have helped EVs become the second most popular car type. However, for a nation aiming for electric mobility leadership, that must be matched with policies and investment that remove consumer uncertainty over switching, not least over where drivers can charge their vehicles.”
