The UK has surpassed a significant milestone with over 1 million pure battery electric cars sold, showcasing the nation's rapid shift toward clean transportation. Data from the Society of Motor

Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals that between 2002 and the end of January, 1,001,677 electric vehicles were registered in the UK. While this achievement took two decades, the SMMT anticipates that the second million could be sold within just two years as global car manufacturers compete in the electric vehicle industry.

Despite the milestone, electric cars constitute a minority on UK roads compared to fossil fuel vehicles. In 2022, out of the 35.1 million cars on UK roads, only 650,000 were pure electric, as reported by the SMMT. However, the UK government's plan to ban new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035 and the introduction of a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate this year are expected to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. Similar regulations are in place in the EU, China, and various US states, setting stringent targets for automakers.

While the growth of electric vehicle sales is evident, there have been challenges. Some major automakers, including Toyota, JLR (Land Rover owner), and Nissan, have requested a delay in the ZEV mandate, claiming insufficient time to adjust their plans. Nevertheless, major manufacturers globally are actively developing and producing electric models.

In January alone, carmakers sold 20,900 electric cars, marking a 21% increase compared to the same month in 2023. Notably, these sales were largely driven by company fleets, which receive indirect subsidies. Sales to private buyers experienced a decline of 25%.

Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, emphasized the need for subsidies to support private electric car sales and urged the government to consider measures such as temporarily halving VAT to encourage individuals to make the switch to electric vehicles. Despite the removal of direct subsidies for electric car sales by the government in 2022, Hawes believes that with the right policies, the UK can build on the success of the first million electric cars within the next two years. Photo by Alan Trotter, Wikimedia commons.