The popularity of electric vehicles has been underlined over the past month with cars such as the Tesla Model 3 proving to be one of the UK’s best-selling cars.
There were more than 3,000 battery-electric vehicles registered last month, an increase of more than 377 per cent compared to August 2018, EVs now take up a record 3.4 per cent market share, with hybrids also showing encouraging growth.
Tesla’s entry level Model 3 can be bought from £36,490 in the UK and is behind the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen Golf in the overall figures for August.
Mike Hawes Chief Executuve of the SMMT which published the figures said:
“August is typically the new car market’s quietest month so the huge increase in EV registrations is very visible but especially welcome. It’s great to see consumers respond to the massive industry investment made over many years.
“While this is encouraging, these figures also show the scale of the challenge ahead. It’s a long road to zero and while manufacturers can deliver the technology, they can’t dictate the pace of uptake.
“To support a smooth transition and deliver environmental gains now, we need a long-term government commitment to measures that give consumers confidence to invest in the latest technologies that best suit their needs.”