Scots' EV Ownership Soars

author: FutureCar Staff    

In recent times, the popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles in England, Wales, and Scotland has been on the rise. Car finance provider Carmoola conducted a survey of 2,202 respondents across Great Britain to further investigate this growing trend.

The survey revealed that the Scottish population is leading the way in driving pure electric vehicles (EVs), with 5% of respondents claiming to have an EV as their main car. 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.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that car sales have been increasing over the past year. In July 2023 alone, there were 23,010 battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, resulting in one new EV being sold every minute.

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% have a hybrid. This indicates that there is still room for growth in the market.

Currently, there are over 45,737 public charging points across the UK, with the majority located in the Greater London region (31.4%). Surprisingly, despite having the largest number of charging points, only 2% of Londoners have an EV as their main car, preferring hybrid models instead.

Unsurprisingly, regions with fewer public charging points have a lower percentage of people adopting EVs. Additionally, the survey found that the 45-54 age group had the highest percentage (4%) of electric vehicle ownership, while only 1% of 25 to 34-year-olds owned an EV as their main car.

When it comes to hybrid vehicles, Yorkshire & Humberside had the highest ownership rate at 11%. In contrast, the North East had the lowest percentage, with none of the surveyed individuals owning 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 key concern for drivers. While the increase in vehicle models and choices will encourage further adoption of EVs, additional incentives such as more charging points and allowances will be necessary to promote the uptake of electric and hybrid vehicles over traditional petrol and diesel models.

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

Source: Zapmap database, 31st July 2023 https://www.zap-map.com/ev-stats/how-many-charging-points

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FutureCar Staff