Category Archives: Buying a new car

EV sales experience 60% YOY growth

May 17, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

New AutoMotive’s latest data revealed that electric vehicle (EV) sales in the UK rose by 60% year-on-year in April.

EVs were also the only market segment to experience a growth in sales and market share, which increased by 5% to make up 16% of the market.

The region with the highest number of new cars registered was Oxfordshire with 49% of newly registered cars being electric, which means that now one in every two cars in the county is electric.

Other reginal highlights include Wimbledon with 33% of new car registrations being electric and Birmingham at 23%.

Fuel Type	Registered vehicles April 2023 (provisional)	Market share April 2023 (%)	Registered vehicles April 2022	Market share April 2022 (%)
Petrol	61,462	50.42	59,722	58.8
Hybrid	31,326	25.7	28,224	25.43
Pure electric	19,234	15.78	12,014	10.82
Diesel	9,779	8.02	10,854	9.78
Other	99	0.08	188	0.17

Data: New Automotive.

Electric vans also experienced an increase in new registration, now holding 7% of the market – a year-on-year growth of 55%.

“It is fantastic to see such strong growth in sales of electric cars since a year ago. Electric cars accounted for almost 16% of all new registrations in April 2023, which represents a staggering 60% rise in the number of EV sold,” said Ben Nelmes, CEO at New AutoMotive.

“The shift towards electric vehicles is not just about reducing climate risk; it’s about benefiting motorists. British drivers increasingly understand making the switch to an electric vehicle is beneficial for them – they are cheaper to run, require less maintenance, and improve local air quality.”

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Carmakers are pushing electric SUVs, but smaller is better when it comes to EVs

May 15, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Electric SUVs are better than their gas counterparts for the climate, but they can be worse than compact gas burners

The electrification of the US’s vast fleet of cars and trucks is a cornerstone of Joe Biden’s plan to tackle the climate crisis. But the ballooning size of electric vehicles, crowding out smaller, more affordable models that strip fewer resources from the environment, threatens to undercut this goal.

Last week, General Motors announced that it will axe its Chevy Bolt electric vehicle by the end of the year. The compact Bolt, launched in 2016 as a way to challenge Tesla for mainstream EV buyers, is one of the cheapest electric cars on the market, costing less than $30,000 and eligible for the $7,500 tax credit offered to drivers for EVs in last year’s mammoth Inflation Reduction Act, unlike the similar Nissan Leaf, which doesn’t qualify due to its foreign manufacture.

Renault EZ-PRO: Urban delivery goes robo (Image: J. Oppenheim/Renault)

In a sign of how the US’s fixation upon large SUVs and pickup trucks is now infiltrating the nascent EV market, General Motors, which aims to sell 1m EVs in the US by 2025, said that the Michigan plant currently churning out Bolts will switch to new electric models of the Silverado and the GMC Sierra – hulking, and more expensive, alternatives that will probably provide the auto company a greater financial return than the modest Bolt.

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These are the cheapest new EVs you can currently buy

March 29, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, Fiat, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, VolkswagenRepost

New EVs are still by-and-large expensive products, but we look at the most affordable models currently available

If Volkswagen sticks to its promise, the ID.2 will arrive as the cheapest new electric car on the market, and tap into the relatively untapped affordable end of the segment, as EV manufacturers have so far been largely prioritising more expensive models that help them generate more money.

Ahead of the Volkswagen ID.2’s arrival, we have a look at the most affordable new EVs that can be bought today.

The entry-level MG4 is still able to travel 218 miles on a charge. (MG)

Volkswagen ID 4 (Image: Volkswagen.co.uk)

MG is now one of the key players in the electric car segment, with its affordable EVs really resonating with buyers that want to go electric, but without having to splash vast amounts of cash

Its new MG4 is also currently the UK’s most affordable EV, with a starting price of £26,995. That buys the entry-level model, equipped with a 51kWh battery that’s able to achieve a credible claimed 218 miles from a charge. It’s also good to drive, well-equipped and offers attractive styling too. MG’s current offers mean you can get behind the wheel for £269 per month over a four-year deal, with a £6,000 deposit.

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Government buys more diesel cars than electric despite zero emission pledge by 2027

March 22, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, PollutionRepost

A Freedom of Information request has revealed just 3.5% of the Home Office fleet is electric despite a 2021 pledge for a zero-emission fleet by 2027 – just years away

Tories have been accused of talking hot air over cars – after we found the Government still buys more diesels than electric models.

That is despite a 2021 pledge for a zero-emission fleet by 2027.

Since then, one department has bought nearly three times as many diesel vehicles as electric ones.

The Home Office added 168 diesel guzzlers to its fleet of 1,617 vehicles, and 62 electric motors.

Just 3.5% of its fleet is electric, data obtained under Freedom of Information laws revealed.

Motoring writer Quentin Willson, who founded the FairCharge campaign to make electric cars affordable, said: “These figures show the massive hole between what the Government say and what they do.

“If the UK is going to reap the benefits of electric cars, with high-paid jobs, cleaner air and less reliance on foreign oil, the Government needs to be leading the charge.”

Our research also found that since 2021, the Department for Transport has added 67 diesels compared with 54 electric vehicles, which make up 9.5% of its fleet.

Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “Hapless Tories are stuck in first gear. Labour’s plans will turbocharge electric vehicle manufacturing and bring good jobs back to industrial heartlands.”

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EV does it: is mass adoption a reality?

March 14, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Way back in 1832, Robert Anderson developed the world’s first electric vehicle (EV), signalling a historic first step. Since that time, gasoline and diesel have been the dominant energy sources for all passenger and commercial vehicles, with EVs seemingly lost in the future.

But today, people are opting for greener choices in all aspects of life—with EVs being a core component of efforts to decarbonise transportation. According to energy watchdog Ofgem, one in four UK households will buy an EV in the next five years, meaning more than 6.5 million households will invest in an electric or plug-in hybrid model.

There’s now more momentum than ever to get behind the wheel of an EV, just look at this year’s CES which was dominated by EV. news. And from a policy perspective, the UK government is committing to ending the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2030, a game changing milestone in the EV market. It’s not just the UK either; the rest of Europe is following suit, with an estimated 33-40 million electric cars on European roads by 2030.

With lower running costs, no congestion charges to pay for a growing number of cities, and reduced polluting greenhouse gases, it’s easy to see why electric cars are becoming the go-to option. Despite the vast benefits EVs provide, there are still obstacles that must be overcome before mass adoption is a reality.

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6 reasons to drive an EV

February 28, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionRepost

Sometimes, picking a new car is as simple as seeing a vehicle you just know you want. More often, it’s a complicated decision where you weigh up a range of factors before selecting the best option for you. If you’re in this position, here are six electric car advantages to make you think EV.

You’re helping the environment

One of the main EV benefits is the reduced environmental impact they have on our world. Electric cars aren’t completely free of CO2, though. A lot of the electricity they use comes from non-renewable sources. Plus, they have to be built and transported, which is likely to involve emissions as well.

However, it seems safe to say that they are still a lot better for the environment than petrol or diesel engines. It generally produces less CO2 to create energy in a power station than it does to do it in a car engine. And some of your electricity will likely come from renewable sources as well.

“The response from police drivers to the BMW i3 has been very positive. It’s actually a very quick car.”

On top of that, an electric engine is around **three times for efficient** than a petrol engine in terms of how it uses its. All in all, you can be confident you’re making a difference.

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“Electric cars should make up 1 in 4 sales by next year” – 2023 wish list

January 31, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

As EVs continue to improve at a rapid rate, Richard Ingram believes that buyer demand should grow even faster

The march of electric cars has begun. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 16.6 per cent of the market in 2022 – up 40.1 per cent on the previous year. This is a landmark moment as BEVs have overtaken diesels in popularity and are now Britain’s second most popular powertrain. Add in PHEVs and more than one in five cars registered was fitted with a plug.

While supply constraints continue to suffocate the new-car market, demand for new electric vehicles shows no sign of slowing. December alone revealed a zero-emission share of almost 32.9 per cent – a record for the year – suggesting that over the next 12 months, accelerating past one in four is virtually guaranteed.

As editor of Auto Express’s sister site DrivingElectric.com, I’m admittedly a little biased. But having been driving EVs day in, day out for the best part of three years now, I’ve seen just how far these cars have come. Their range and charging are improving at an astonishing rate, and while the public infrastructure needs work, the comfort, convenience and environmental benefits are clear.

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One in three cars sold in December were electric vehicles, says New AutoMotive

January 30, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) ended the year strong with its highest market share in December as one in three cars where EVs, according to New AutoMotive.

Sales of BEVs for the whole year stayed strong and manage to increase 38% compared to 2021,

despite a decrease in sales of cars in the UK market.

During the month of December there were 39,780 BEVs registered which represented 34% of the total of all cars sold, while 27,605 hybrids were sold during the last month of 2022 and improving on November’s sales which stood at 24,748 BEVs registered.

Electric cars continue to be the fastest growing segment of the market, with 250,407 BEVs registered in 2022 and bringing its cumulative total to more than 610,000 at the end of December.

In contrast is the continued decline of fossil fuel vehicles with petrol market share dropping below 40% in December for the first time since at least 2010. The decline of sales from petrol cars will continue in 2023 as buyers transition to electric options.

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Sales of used electric vehicles reach record highs – but rest of the market feels full impact of stock shortage

November 25, 2022Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

According to a new report published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), used battery electric vehicle (BEV) demand reached record levels in Q3, as sales grew by 44.1% to 16,775 vehicles.
However, the UK used car market saw transactions fall 12.2% in Q3, with only 1,785,447 vehicles changing hands.

This is the second consecutive quarter of decline as new car supply shortages are being blamed for the drop in sales.

This is the first time that Q3 transactions have fallen below two million since 2015.

The SMMT believe that semiconductor shortages that are impacting a healthy supply of stock is the core issue.

This is further shown in the year to date information, as sales are now down 9.7% to 5,319,482 compared to the previous year.

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Despite the challenges facing the wider industry, there is positive news for the electric vehicle market.

Used BEV sales have now reached 48,032 in the year to date (January to September 2022).

The market for used hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) also grew, up 2.5% in the quarter with 41,479 transactions.

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‘Huge wave’ of electric cars expected on UK roads ahead of 2030 petrol and diesel car ban

November 2, 2022Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The UK is set to see major growth in electric car sales in the coming years once supply chain issues have been resolved.

The UK Government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, followed by a similar ban on plug-in hybrid vehicles five years later. Petrol, diesel and hybrid HGVs over 26 tonnes could be banned from 2040, subject to a Government consultation.

The Government first introduced the “historic step towards net zero” in November 2020.

Norway is set to ban the new sales of petrol and diesel cars from 2025, with electric vehicles accounting for more than 50 percent of car sales in the nation.

The European Union has also agreed to an effective ban of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, following a European Commission vote earlier this year.

Casper Rasmussen, CEO of Monta, spoke about how the various petrol and diesel car sales bans will take effect and impact drivers.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “If you look at it from a CO2 and emissions point of view, you want it to be as fast as possible.

“For an adjustment point of view for the different countries, I think it’s a fair place to put it.

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