Stalled growth in electric vehicles comes despite government goal to phase out petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles by 2035

The number of new cars registered in the UK has jumped by nearly 18% but electric vehicle demand is flatlining, prompting the industry to call for a VAT cut to stimulate sales.

Annual figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Friday show 1.9m new cars were registered last year, well up on the previous year’s figure of 1.6m and the highest level since the 2.3m registrations of 2019.

The increase is a boost for the automotive industry after the pandemic led to supply chain problems and a shortage of vital computer chips that slowed production.

Across the year, 315,000 new battery electric vehicles were sold. That was 50,000 more than 2022, but the number being bought as a share of total registrations failed to grow as expected. They represented just 16.5% of the total, slightly down on last year’s 16.6%.

  • TedZanzibar@feddit.ukEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I mean you’re not wrong but at the same time it’s foolish to write off the cost of public charging as a non-issue. People who are used to having to drive somewhere to fill up with fossil fuels are already wary of charging times and charger availability, so the fact that it currently costs more than petrol is another reason for them to just buy another new combustion car while they’re still available.

    We went electric a smidge under 5 years ago and in that time the cost of a rapid charge has more than doubled. If that had happened to petrol or diesel there would’ve been riots in the streets!

    It’s a ridiculous state of affairs but nothing’s likely to change while the government is beholden to the oil industry. This is exactly what they want.

    • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
      2·
      10 months ago

      How am I wrong? The maths should speak for itself. It sounds like you are more agreeing to be honest.

      If you driving an ICE, being able to cheaply refuel a home is so game charging you can’t really get it until you have being driving an EV for a month or two. Get a EV with range enough for x1.5-x2 your commute, and your good.

      Rapid chargers should be cheaper and there should be more of them. But we also need more cheap slow chargers in carparks you going to park for hours anyway.

      Though really, I’d rather better public transport than drive, but where I am, that’s a way off.

      • TedZanzibar@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        I didn’t say you’re wrong, I said you’re not wrong. My point was that it’s easy for us who are already used to home charging to preach about how cheap and easy it is, but it flies over the heads of the average joe who seem to only think about it in terms of the public infrastructure - like petrol stations.

        Hence, ignoring or downplaying the price of public charging because, in reality, it’s a rare occurrence to actually need them does nothing to convince non-EV drivers to switch.

        That was what I was getting at, but ultimately we’re in agreement. If you’re able to charge at home it’s super cheap and super convenient, but the cost of public charging needs to come down drastically if we’re going to convince ICE drivers to make the switch.

        • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          Argh, sorry. Some how missed the not.

          I think we are saying same. Maybe EV ads should talk home charging. Frankly, right now, it’s a bit questionable if you go EV without it. Though I met one guy charging at a public charger, who lives in flats and has very high milage. What he does is use a local Tesla charger bank over night at a low rate. But that doesn’t scale of course.