Scots set the trend in electric vehicle ownership.

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

The survey, which included 2,202 respondents from Great Britain, found that the Scottish population leads the way in driving pure electric vehicles. A remarkable 5% of Scots claimed to have an EV as their main car, while only 1% of those surveyed in Wales reported owning an electric vehicle.

Over the past 12 months, car sales in the UK 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. In July 2023, one new EV was sold every minute, totaling 23,010 registrations.

Despite the increased adoption of EVs in the UK, the survey showed that only 3% of respondents have an electric vehicle as their main car, while 6% own a hybrid.

Currently, there are more than 45,737 public charging points across the UK, with the majority located in the Greater London region (31.4%). The South East follows with 5,654 charging points (12.4%), and Scotland has 4,073 charging points (8.9%). Interestingly, despite having the highest 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 ownership of electric vehicles, with 4% of respondents in this age range owning an EV as their main car. In contrast, only 1% of 25 to 34-year-olds reported owning an electric vehicle.

When it comes to hybrid vehicle ownership, Yorkshire & Humberside has the highest percentage (11%), while the North East is least likely to have a hybrid, with 0% of respondents in that region owning one 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 EVs. While the increase in models available in the market will contribute to the growth of EVs, additional incentives, such as more charging points and allowances, will be necessary to encourage the uptake of EVs 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 and are representative of all adults aged 18 and above in Great Britain.

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

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