The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads has surpassed two million for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the country's transition to electric motoring.
Landmark Achievement
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the "landmark moment" as figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed that 2,012,000 zero-emission vehicles were licensed for use in the UK as of the end of December last year. This represents a 31.2% increase compared to the previous year.
Government Support
The DfT noted that more than 100,000 drivers have benefited from the Government's Electric Car Grant, which offers savings of either £1,500 or £3,750 off the purchase price of a new EV. Ms Alexander stated: "Over two million EVs are now registered across the UK – a landmark moment in the UK’s transition to electric, backed by £7.5 billion in Government funding. As global fuel prices continue to fluctuate, making the switch has never made more sense."
Industry Reaction
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car buying advice website Electrifying.com, described reaching two million EVs as "a significant milestone." She attributed the uptake to factors including Government support, substantial investment from the charging industry and car manufacturers, and a "wave of genuinely compelling electric cars."
Challenges Remain
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis called the rise in EV numbers "impressive" but highlighted that users of public chargers "are still paying a significant premium." He suggested that a sensible next step to further increase uptake would be to reduce VAT at public chargers to match the rate applied to domestic electricity.
