Latest UK electric car sales data shows that one in three new cars sold in December 2022 were electric.

New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count (ECC) showed that for the first time since at least 2010 (when diesel was on the rise) petrol’s share of the market fell below 40 per cent, and meant that over the year there was a 38 per cent increase in the number of battery electric vehicles (BEV) sold compared with 2021.

Although the UK car market shrank overall, the demand for BEVs remained strong. Diesel and petrol’s share of the market continues to shrink, and the share of hybrids stagnated – a sign that demand for transitory hybrid technology has potentially peaked as drivers increasingly recognise the superiority of fully electric vehicles.

Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive said: “December’s figures are seriously impressive. This is the result of years of Government support through consumer and fiscal incentives, as well as a clear long-term ambition to end sales of fossil-fuelled cars by 2035.”

However he also sounded a note of caution: “Delays to the UK’s plans to introduce a zero emissions vehicle mandate risk undermining the case for investment in gigafactories and charging infrastructure. A strong ZEV mandate will bring forward running cost savings for consumers that dwarf debates about fuel duty rates. Consumers have shown that they are ready to pass on petrol and embrace electric; now is the time for the Government to show that it is on their side by setting ambitious targets that enable more people to access the benefits of going electric.”

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