EV ownership surges in Scotland

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【Summary】Scots lead in electric vehicle ownership with 5% having an EV as their main car, while only 1% of Welsh drivers do. The UK saw a rise in car sales, with one EV sold every minute in July. However, only 3% of respondents have an EV as their main car and 6% have a hybrid. London has the most public charging points but only 2% of Londoners have EVs. The survey suggests that more charging points and incentives are needed to encourage further adoption of EVs over traditional petrol and diesel models.

FutureCar Staff Aug 25, 2023 4:58 PM PT

In a recent investigation by car finance provider Carmoola, the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles in England, Wales, and Scotland was analyzed. The study, which surveyed 2,202 respondents across Great Britain, found that the Scottish population leads the way in driving pure electric vehicles (EVs). In fact, 5% of Scots claimed to have an EV as their main car, while only 1% of those surveyed in Wales had an electric vehicle.

Over the past 12 months, car sales have been on the rise, especially in the electric vehicle sector. 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 alone. Despite this growth, the survey revealed that only 3% of respondents have an electric vehicle as their main car, while 6% own a hybrid.

With over 45,737 public charging points across the UK, the Greater London region has the highest concentration at 31.4%, followed by the South East with 12.4% and Scotland with 8.9%. Surprisingly, despite having the most charging points, only 2% of Londoners have an EV as their main car, with a preference for hybrid models instead.

Unsurprisingly, regions with fewer charging points have a smaller percentage of EV adopters. The survey also found that the 45-54 age group had the highest ownership rate of electric vehicles at 4%, while only 1% of 25 to 34-year-olds owned an EV as their main car. In terms of hybrid vehicle ownership, Yorkshire & Humberside ranked the highest at 11%, while the North East had the lowest percentage of hybrid owners at 0%.

Aidan Rushby, CEO at Carmoola, highlighted the importance of cost and incentives in driving the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. While improved vehicle choices and increased market availability will encourage further adoption, drivers will still require more charging points and incentives to choose EVs over traditional petrol and diesel models.

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

Source: Zapmap database

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