The number of plug-in electric cars on UK roads reached 195,410 in 2018 – a 76.6% increase on the previous year.
This according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which found that overall ownership of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) increased by almost 30% last year – with more than 620,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric cars now in use.
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The report also found that the average CO2 emissions for SMMT’s 34m-strong motorparc has dropped 17.8% when compared with 2008.
Superminis make up the majority of the parc, accounting for 33.2% of all vehicles. Dual purpose vehicles saw the largest growth in 2018, up 10.6%, while family hatches and saloons (upper medium) saw the largest fall – down 4.7% to 4m.
“Thanks to massive investment from manufacturers in delivering a wide range of models across all fuel types, to suit all driving needs, environmental gains are now being delivered across the UK,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT.
“Ever-more advanced in technology makes every new generation of vehicle more efficient than the last, and this is filtering rapidly from the new car market into the broader parc,” Hawes continued. “Fleet renewal is proven to work so we need a world-class package of incentives and infrastructure to give motorists the confidence to buy the latest, cleanest cars, whatever the fuel type, in the greater numbers we need to meet environmental challenges.”
SMMT also revealed earlier this month that new UK car registrations dropped 3.4% in March. Diesel registration continued its recent decline, falling 21.4% in March, while petrol demand grew 5.1%. Demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles rose 7.6% to 25,302 registrations – a record for March.
“March is a key barometer for the new car market, so this fall is of clear concern,” said Hawes. “While manufacturers continue to invest in exciting models and cutting-edge tech, for the UK to reap the full benefits of these advances, we need a strong market that encourages the adoption of new technology.
