Scots' EV Ownership Soars

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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. UK car sales have been rising, with one EV sold every minute in July. However, only 3% of people surveyed have an EV as their main car, and 6% have a hybrid. London has the most charging points but only 2% of Londoners own an EV. The 45-54 age group has the highest EV ownership at 4%, and Yorkshire & Humberside has the highest hybrid ownership at 11%.

FutureCar Staff Aug 21, 2023 6:18 AM PT

In the wake of a recent report that revealed the high demand for electric vehicles (EVs), car finance provider Carmoola decided to investigate the growing popularity of EVs in England, Wales, and Scotland.

According to a survey conducted across Great Britain, it was found that the Scottish population is leading the way in terms of driving pure EVs. Out of the 2,202 respondents, 5% of Scots claimed to have an EV as their main car. On the other hand, the Welsh were found to be the least likely to own an electric vehicle, with only 1% of those surveyed having an EV as their main vehicle.

Over the past year, car sales have been on the rise, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reporting an 87.9% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, totaling 23,010. This means that one new EV was sold every minute in July 2023.

Despite the increased adoption of EVs in the UK, the survey revealed that only 3% of respondents have an electric vehicle as their main car, while 6% have a hybrid. There are currently 45,737 public charging points across the UK, with the majority located in the Greater London region (31.4%), followed by the South East (12.4%) and Scotland (8.9%). Interestingly, despite having the largest number of public charging points, only 2% of Londoners have an EV as their main car, with a preference for hybrid models (9%).

As expected, regions with the lowest number of public charging points also have the smallest percentage of people adopting EVs. The survey also found that the age group with the highest percentage (4%) of electric vehicle ownership as their main car is the 45-54 age group, while only 1% of 25 to 34-year-olds own an EV.

In terms of hybrid vehicle ownership, Yorkshire & Humberside has the highest percentage (11%), while the North East is the least likely to have a hybrid, with 0% of respondents having a hybrid as their main car.

Aidan Rushby, CEO at Carmoola, highlighted the importance of addressing the overall cost of buying a new car as a concern for drivers. While the increase in EV models in the market is expected to encourage further adoption, Rushby emphasized the need for more charging points and incentives to promote the uptake of EVs over traditional petrol and diesel models.

The survey was conducted with a total sample size of 2,272 adults and took place online between 18-19 July 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 https://www.zap-map.com/ev-stats/how-many-charging-points

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