UK's Electric Car Adoption on the Rise

The UK is hitting the fast lane when it comes to adopting electric cars. In a striking uptick, October saw a 14% jump in new passenger car registrations compared to last year, totaling an impressive 153,529 vehicles. It’s clear that the Brits are charging ahead with 15 months of continuous growth, and a noteworthy 20% increase in new car registrations over the past ten months.

Electric Cars Gaining Ground

Electric cars, the spark plugs of the industry, are gaining ground even faster, capturing a growing piece of the pie. Last month alone, 38,228 plug-in vehicles were registered, up 33% from the previous year, and now represent nearly a quarter of all new cars hitting the roads.

Digging a bit deeper, all-electric (BEV) models have enjoyed a remarkable 42 months of uninterrupted growth, with 23,943 new registrations marking a 20% increase from last year. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) aren’t lagging, racing ahead with a 61% surge to 14,285 vehicles. It seems the UK’s appetite for electric is insatiable, with a record-setting deployment of 4,753 new AC charging points in the last quarter to keep these cars running.

Market Share and Growth

While BEVs are certainly in the driver’s seat, claiming a 15.6% market share, PHEVs are not far behind at 9.3%. Together, they’ve charged up the market, contributing to over 375,000 new eco-friendly vehicles on UK roads this year – that’s a solid 35% increase.

Despite this electric boom, none of the standalone all-electric models have cracked the top 10 monthly bestsellers – a testament to the stiff competition in the market. Tesla’s Model Y, however, remains a popular choice, sitting comfortably in the top 10 year-to-date rankings.

Commercial Sector

In the commercial sector, electric vans are trailing the passenger segment but have shown an 18% growth. This mirrors a global trend where commercial electric adoption is a bit slower off the mark.