EV ownership surges in Scotland

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【Summary】Scots lead in EV ownership with 5% having an EV as their main car, while only 1% of Welsh people do. The UK saw an 87.9% increase in EV registrations, with one sold every minute in July. Only 3% of respondents have an EV as their main car, with 6% owning a hybrid. London has the most charging points but only 2% of Londoners have an EV as their main car. The 45-54 age group has the highest EV ownership at 4%, while Yorkshire & Humberside has the highest hybrid ownership at 11%.

FutureCar Staff Aug 21, 2023 11:20 PM PT

In the wake of a recent report that revealed the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles in England, Wales, and Scotland, car finance provider Carmoola conducted a survey to further investigate this trend.

The survey, which included 2,202 respondents across Great Britain, found that the Scottish population is leading the way in driving pure electric vehicles (EVs). In fact, 5% of Scots claimed to have an EV as their main car, making them the highest percentage of EV owners. On the other hand, only 1% of those surveyed in Wales had an EV as their main vehicle, making them the least likely to own an electric vehicle.

Over the past 12 months, car sales have been on the rise, particularly in the electric vehicle market. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported an 87.9% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, with 23,010 new EVs sold in July 2023. This translates to one new EV being sold every minute during that month.

Despite the increased adoption of EVs in the UK, the survey found that only 3% of respondents have an electric vehicle as their main car, while 6% own a hybrid. This indicates that there is still room for growth in the electric vehicle market.

Currently, there are over 45,737 public charging points across the UK, with the majority located in the Greater London region (31.4%). The South East and Scotland follow with 12.4% and 8.9% of the charging points, respectively. Surprisingly, even though London has the highest number of charging points, only 2% of Londoners have an EV as their main car, with a preference for hybrid models (9%).

Unsurprisingly, regions with the lowest number of public charging points also have the smallest percentage of people adopting EVs.

The survey also revealed that the 45-54 age group has the highest percentage (4%) of electric vehicle ownership, while only 1% of 25 to 34-year-olds own an EV as their main car. Additionally, Yorkshire & Humberside has the highest (11%) hybrid vehicle ownership, while the North East has the lowest percentage, with 0% of respondents owning a hybrid as their main car.

Aidan Rushby, CEO at Carmoola, emphasized the importance of addressing the overall cost of buying a new car to encourage further adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. He highlighted the need for more charging points and incentives to promote the uptake of these vehicles over traditional petrol and diesel models.

The survey had a total sample size of 2,272 adults and was conducted online between July 18-19, 2023. The figures have been weighted to be representative of all adults in Great Britain aged 18 and above.

Source: Zapmap database, 31st July 2023

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