News Published on : 10-Jan-2022 15:58:04

At least 330 000 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will be registered in the UK in 2022 according to figures from DriveElectric. This figure is based on DriveElectric s own forecasts and it represents a significant increase from 183 000 - the number of battery electric vehicles (cars and light vans) expected to have been registered in the UK in 2021. The figure of 330 000 - which is around 16% of all new sales (up from 10% in 2021) - does not include plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). DriveElectric uses its own model built from its intelligence of the UK market to forecast registrations of battery electric cars and vans. Background issues behind the forecast include: - Vehicle shortages primarily due to semiconductor supply issues are expected to remain until around mid-2022 - demand continues to outstrip supply until then - EV production from a large number of manufacturers new factories will start in 2022 for example two new Tesla factories will treble the volume for a brand that was the UK market leader in December 2021 - Many new models including the Tesla Model Y will arrive in the UK - There will be accelerated expansion of the public charging network including rapid chargers with ongoing improved reliability - The home charger grant ends in March 2022 - this won t affect EV sales but fewer people are likely to get chargers and non-smart chargers will get used - UK businesses will move to reduce their corporate carbon footprint - leading to potential impact on sales of vehicles such as high-CO2 petrol SUVs. Looking further ahead DriveElectric sees particularly high numbers of EV sales from 2025 onwards (around 50% of registrations). Registrations of petrol and diesel vehicles will decline naturally ahead of the 2030 ban as people will stop buying them due to poor residual values which means higher lease costs and as EV prices become competitive with prices of ICE vehicles.