UK automotive prospects have an unprecedented degree of alternative for electrical automobiles as there are actually 130 fashions to select from, in accordance with new information from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT).
It means two in each 5 new automobiles on sale can be found with an electrical powertrain, giving prospects much more alternative when contemplating to make the change to electrical with the assistance of their most well-liked dealership.
The most recent determine represents an uplift on the 102 electrical automobiles obtainable this time final yr.
There are additionally greater than 100 plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and almost 50 hybrids (HEV), which means 4 out of 5 automobiles fashions can be found with electrified powertrains.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief government, stated, “There’s by no means been a greater time to go electrical – with extra alternative, higher automobile vary and bettering infrastructure providing a compelling driving proposition. However the market nonetheless isn’t shifting quick sufficient so daring assist for shopper EV uptake – notably funding in incentives and infrastructure – is required to speed up decarbonisation efforts and make switching open to all drivers.”
Regardless of the broad vary of electrical fashions on sale, solely 20% of recent automotive registrations to date this yr are for absolutely electrical fashions. The vast majority of new electrical automotive gross sales come from the fleet and wage sacrifice channels, pushed by beneficial taxation schemes.
The SMMT stated pure market demand continues to be “nicely under the mandated authorities goal of 28% this yr” and has outlined a bundle of measures to spice up uptake.
The automotive trade is asking for a halving of VAT on new electrical automobile (EV) purchases, a transfer which might put 267,000 further new EVs – moderately than fossil gasoline autos – on the street, driving down CO2 emissions by six million tonnes a yr; scrapping, or amending, the VED Costly Automobile Complement; and equalising VAT paid on public charging to that levied at dwelling.
