Almost 1 / 4 of autos offered within the UK final month had been battery electrical (BEV) fashions, based on trade figures.
Greater than 72,000 new BEVs had been registered in September, accounting for 23.3% of the overall market, the Society for Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT) stated.
It described the figures – a 29% rise on the 56,000 BEVs offered in September 2024 – as “the best month on record for BEV volumes”.
The motor foyer group attributed the rise to the federal government’s Electrical Automotive Grant scheme, in addition to elements such because the “ever-increasing choice of models” within the sector.
Greater than 20,000 shoppers have taken benefit for the reason that £650m grant scheme was launched earlier this summer time. It presents reductions of as much as £3,750 on 36 electrical fashions.
General, the SMMT stated simply over 50% of the 312,887 new autos registered final month had been electrical fashions, together with each hybrid and battery varieties.
The overall variety of newly registered vehicles and different autos was up practically 14% in comparison with final 12 months, the most effective September efficiency since 2020, it added.
Producers have been set a goal of making certain 28% of autos offered this 12 months should be electrical, though the mandate was relaxed earlier this 12 months to incorporate hybrid in addition to battery-only vehicles.
Mike Hawes, chief govt of the SMMT, stated: “Electrified autos are powering market development after a sluggish summer time – and with file ZEV [zero emission vehicles] uptake, large trade funding is paying off, regardless of demand nonetheless trailing ambition.
“The Electric Car Grant will help to break down one of the barriers holding back more drivers from making the switch – and tackling remaining roadblocks, by unlocking infrastructure investment and driving down energy costs, will be crucial to the success of the industry and the environmental goals we share.”
Nevertheless, the SMMT stated extra nonetheless wanted to be achieved to “re-energise” non-public consumers to change to electrical.
Commenting on the figures, Colin Walker, from the Power and Local weather Intelligence Unit, stated: “Demand for electric cars is up again and factoring in the flexibilities the car industry lobbied for in the UK’s EV policy, sales are now ahead of where they need to be to hit this year’s target.
“That will be two years in a row that the targets would have been hit and drivers are making a whole lot of kilos of financial savings every year by making the swap to electrical.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added: “Our reductions have sparked a surge in electrical automobile gross sales, making them cheaper and inside attain of extra households than ever earlier than.”
