UK plug-in vehicle sales surge
The number of plug-in vehicles sold in the first nine months this year has more than doubled compared with the same period last year. The figures published by Go Ultra Low today showed that plug-in vehicles have made a real connection with UK drivers.
More than 20,000 motorists made the switch to electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) between January and September 2015 which is an increase of 138.5% over 2014. These encouraging figures provide a clear signal that the future is bright for the electric car market. The government anticipates that 5% of new car registrations will be ultra low emission by 2020 – a prediction that seems to be on track given today’s announcement.
With more than 27 models of EV and PHEV available on sale today in the UK, the scene is set for the next generation of technology to provide even greater choice for consumers with low emissions vehicles.
The top three best-selling plug-in cars in the UK are:
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 9,303 sold Jan-Sept 2015 (2,731 Jan-Sept 2014)
- Nissan Leaf EV 4,285 (2,969)
- BMW i3 1,564 (874)
The Advanced Propulsion Centre was created by industry and government working together to position the UK as a global centre of excellence for low carbon propulsion development and production. To date, the APC has invested in 10 major low carbon propulsion projects worth more than £174 million which will secure or create more than 4,500 jobs in the UK and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 12 million tonnes, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from 630,000 new cars, every year, for the next 12 years.