Electric car sales overtake diesels for the first time in 2022
>
Electric car sales will overtake diesels for the first time in 2022 – but the charging network needed to keep them on the road is struggling to keep pace
- Battery-powered cars accounted for 16.6 percent of new registrations in 2022
- Diesels fell below 10 percent and petrol remained the most popular at 56 percent
- Only 23 charging points are installed every day across the country, according to figures
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Sales of electric cars surpassed diesels for the first time last year, but the charging network needed to keep them on the road is not keeping pace.
Industry figures showed that battery-powered cars made up 16.6 percent of new registrations in 2022, while diesels fell under 10 percent. Petrol remained the most popular with 56 percent.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says only 23 charging points are being installed per day across the country – far short of the target of 100 per day.
An SMMT report showed that new car sales fell last year to their lowest level since 1992, attributed to a shortage of key components that have limited the number of cars produced. The SMMT forecasts a 15 percent increase in sales this year on pent-up demand, allaying fears that the looming recession could dampen buyers’ appetites.
Electric vehicle is being charged (file photo). The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said the lack of charging points for drivers on long journeys was deterring buyers from buying electric cars
Ministers are encouraging the switch to electric cars in the fight against climate change and the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from 2030.
The SMMT said the lack of charging points for drivers on long journeys was deterring buyers from electric cars.
During the Christmas season, there were reports of Tesla drivers having to queue for three hours to charge their vehicle. A government target of 300,000 to 720,000 charging points to be installed by 2030 should be significantly increased. Currently there are less than 40,000.
SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said, “The danger is that the user experience will get worse before it gets better. The lion’s share of the investments first went to London and the South East.’
Figures this week showed that of the 36,752 public charging points available in the UK, 11,515 or just over 31 per cent were in Greater London, compared to 1,106 in the North East.
Electric vehicle (file photo). Ministers encourage switch to electric cars to fight climate change and sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from 2030
Mr Hawes said Britain should be ‘at the forefront’ of electric vehicles, but market share for plug-in vehicles lags behind Norway, Germany and the Netherlands.
He added: “Looking at the growth of electric vehicles, investments in infrastructure should at least keep us pace.
“The demand is there, so there has to be a significant increase in that investment if you want to be ahead of the demand, because at the moment it is lagging behind.”
The latest figures mark the first time diesels have fallen behind battery-only cars – although Mr Hawes said he thought there was still a market for them.
He said: ‘I still think there is a demand for diesel. If you’re doing a lot of miles, chances are you don’t want to stop on a long trip and queue to charge once, let alone twice.”