Purchase price parity for EVs has variously been tipped to be achieved in Europe in 2024 by Exeter University, 2025 according to Goldman Sachs, the mid-2020s according to the International Energy Agency or 2030 according to the CEO of Ford. But sometimes it is worth looking up from down the road, and at what we can see for certain: how much EVs cost - and can save - consumers right now.

The total number of battery electric cars on UK roads at the end of 2023 just missed the 1 million mark. This milestone came just into 2024, meaning BEVs now account for approximately 3% of the total car parc in the UK. Although a record number of motorists switched to electrified transport over the year, there is a mountain to climb before this starts to drastically affect the car parc’s overall makeup. We estimate that this number will grow further - to 1.2 to 1.3 million, approaching 4% - by the end of 2024.

“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day”, which is a pretentious way of saying that sometimes the sound and fury of monthly EV sales figures and their selective dissection sometimes signifies nothing. Or if not quite nothing - after all, that’s why New AutoMotive produces its monthly Electric Car Count, Electric Van Count and all new Global EV Tracker - you can still risk losing the site of the bigger picture.

As our State of the Switch report 2024 shows, 2023 saw a record number of battery electric vehicles registered in the UK, in a period of growth for the whole car market. The total number of EVs registered in the UK over 2023 was 297,890. This is 18.5% higher than the number registered in 2022 which stood at 251,406.

Our latest report on progress towards the UK’s transition to clean road transport.

We were delighted to be invited to present some of our work to representatives from Europe’s automotive industry at the DRCC conference in Munich in March 2024

How the UK can accelerate emissions reductions and boost energy security by getting high mileage drivers to go electric

There have been a lot of headlines about how Chinese electric car sales are booming. While this is good news for the planet, the growing expectation that China has passed another, more important tipping point: peak petrol consumption.

How can this be? Chinese electric car sales have certainly been booming, but sales of new ICE cars are still outpacing the attrition rate.

Are private buyers really shunning electric cars?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the European electric vehicle (EV) sector, partnering is the key to innovation and sustainability. As the demand for clean and efficient transportation solutions continues to surge, forming strategic partnerships is essential for staying at the forefront of this dynamic industry. In this blog, we'll explore the immense potential for partnerships within Europe's thriving EV sector

The August silly season seems to come earlier every year. Hand-wringing Times editorials, a Daily Mail campaign, and now the Sun demanding “Give us a Brake”, the media have decided to focus on electric vehicles. Here’s why Ministers are more likely to put the pedal to the metal and accelerate the UK’s transition to electric cars.

Electric car registrations continued a run of very strong growth in June as consumers increasingly shun petrol and diesel in favour of hybrid and fully electric cars. Consumer demand continues to outstrip supply, with waiting times continuing to extend out to as much as 52 weeks for some electric models, due to the popularity of these vehicles.

The electric van segment is failing to capitalise on the growth in registrations since last year, with its market share for the year to date, decreasing by 0.1% compared to last year. This time last year the electric segment saw a considerable jump in market share - the segment will have to similarly improve if it is to keep up, or surpass last years registrations.

Electric vans took just 4% of the market this month, highlighting the task ahead for manufacturers, while diesels remain stubbornly high with a market share of 93%. New research conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles showed 70% of van drivers thought an electric van would be suitable for their business. This is further that consumer interest is there, but the government and the manufacturers must act on this in order to start seeing rises in uptake.

New electric car sales grew by 38% year-on-year in May, as the UK’s new car market continues to recover from a disappointing 2022. Electric car sales were responsible for around 18% of all new registrations (up 5 percentage points from May 2022), meaning just under one in five new cars sold in May was fully electric.

This piece is the final part of a six-part series New AutoMotive has released over the ongoing consultation period for the UK’s Zero Emissions (ZEV) Mandate, over April-May. This series will examine the current government proposals around the Mandate in detail, as well as putting the policy framework into its broader context.

Provisional figures for van sales in the UK shows a positive month for e-vans, which claimed 7% of the overall market. This is an increase of 55% compared to last year's figures - a promising level of growth. However, 19,169 diesel vans were also registered this month, as diesel dominated the market - as it usually does. The e-van market still has a significant way to go to challenge this dominance, and manufacturers must take urgent steps to ensure they are on track for the 2030 phase-out.

The sale of new electric cars rose by 60% year-on-year in April, as Britons continue to flock to make the switch to cheaper, greener electric transport. Around 16% of all new cars were electric. Across all fuel types, the new car market grew by roughly 10% overall, continuing the steady recovery that began in February, with this growth largely being driven by a 60% increase in new EV registrations.

This piece is the fifth in a six-part series New AutoMotive will release during the ongoing consultation period for the UK’s Zero Emissions (ZEV) Mandate, over April-May. This series will examine the current government proposals around the Mandate in detail, as well as putting the policy framework into its broader context.