Scots' EV ownership surges

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【Summary】Scots lead in EV ownership with 5% having an EV as their main car, while only 1% of Welsh have one. UK car sales have risen, with one EV sold every minute in July. However, only 3% of survey respondents have an EV as their main car, while 6% have a hybrid. London has the most public charging points, but only 2% of Londoners have an EV as their main car.

FutureCar Staff Aug 21, 2023 4:19 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 examined. The investigation followed a report that revealed one electric vehicle (EV) was sold every minute in July.

The survey conducted by Carmoola involved 2,202 respondents across Great Britain. It found that the Scottish population is leading the way in terms of driving pure EVs, with 5% claiming to have an EV as their main car. On the other hand, the Welsh are the least likely to own an electric vehicle, with only 1% of those surveyed having an EV as their main vehicle.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported a rise in car sales over the past year. In July 2023, battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations increased by 87.9% to a total of 23,010. This means that one new EV was sold every minute during that month.

Despite the increased adoption of EVs in the UK, only 3% of the respondents in the survey claimed to have an electric vehicle as their main car. Additionally, 6% of the respondents stated that they have a hybrid vehicle.

There are currently over 45,737 public charging points across the UK. The majority of these charging points are located in the Greater London region, accounting for 31.4% of the total. The South East comes next with 5,654 charging points (12.4%), followed by Scotland with 4,073 charging points (8.9%). Surprisingly, 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 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.

In terms of hybrid vehicle ownership, Yorkshire & Humberside has the highest percentage (11%), while the North East has the lowest percentage, with 0% of those surveyed owning a hybrid as their main car.

Aidan Rushby, CEO at Carmoola, highlighted the importance of cost when it comes to buying a new car. While the increase in models available in the market will encourage further adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, drivers will still need additional incentives to make the switch from traditional petrol and diesel models. This includes the installation of more charging points and the introduction of allowances to further encourage the uptake of EVs.

The survey had a total sample size of 2,272 adults and was conducted online between 18-19 July 2023. The figures have been weighted to ensure they are 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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