2022: the year of the electric car?

Electric car sales in the UK had stellar growth in 2021. One of the Subak member organisations, New AutoMotive, recently released their Electric Car Count: Year Review & December 2021. We put our minds together to highlight exactly what their data means, and what more needs to be done to get more electric cars on the road in 2022.

Electrifying road transport in the UK is key to achieving net zero. With one of the outcomes of COP26 being major signatories of a pledge to achieve 100% of new car and van sales being zero emission in leading markets by 2035, electric vehicles were a hot topic in 2021.

But what does the data say? Does this focus translate to changing consumer behaviour? According to New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count data, 2021 saw very welcome growth in the number of electric cars sold in the UK, becoming the fastest growing segment of the market. Petrol and diesel showed continued decline, and hybrid sales stagnated. While rapidly growing electric car registrations are to be celebrated, at the end of 2021, they represent just 1% of the UK’s 32 million passenger cars. Lots done, but nevertheless, lots more to do. 2021’s successes paved the way for 2022 to be the year where electric cars dominate. 

New AutoMotive is predicting a doubling of the new car market in 2022, to some 300,000 cars - which will equate to around 15% of the car market. What do we need to do in 2022 to hit this target, and to exceed it? Commenting on 2021’s Electric Car Count data, Ben Nelmes, Head of Policy and Research at New AutoMotive, said:

“Ministers should set out ambitious targets for electric car sales for the UK’s planned Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate. The government must  use every tool in the box to get electric cars into the hands of high mileage drivers to maximise emissions reductions. Local authorities also have an important role. The extra 180,000 electric cars on the road in 2021 is small compared to the 32 million polluting cars on the road. To reduce emissions, local authorities should accelerate the implementation of clean air zones, promote public transport and active travel alongside electric cars.”

Infrastructure  + Manufacturing

It was recently announced that a new electric car battery firm planning a factory in Northumberland has received government funding for its development. This is a promising step for UK-based manufacturing and improvement of infrastructure, but we need more investment channelled into developing this throughout 2022. 

Policy 

Last year, the government announced that it is going ahead with the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which should give a sales target to manufacturers, and be implemented by 2024. Although we are still waiting for more details on the specifics of this policy - we can envision it proving popular with British drivers, due to high EV demand. We are expecting that the policy will reduce the cost of purchasing an EV, whilst incentivising progressive original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) to drive the change. 

COP27 

Although COP26 feels like it has only just finished, we are already looking towards COP27 being hosted in Egypt this November. We can expect Egypt to focus on renewable energy goals and advocate for the rest of Africa on climate finance - something that COP26 failed to get an acceptable deal on and will be crucial to ensure a global transition to zero carbon.

38 countries signed the pledge to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars in Glasgow. COP27 will be a good time to reflect on whether these countries have made any progress towards this goal, and campaign for a widening of membership.

Shifting consumer behaviour: dispelling myths with data 

Finally, we need to continue to put the data in the hands of consumers. For many consumers, electric vehicles are often dismissed based on fears or misconceptions: these could be dispelled with access to the facts and data. A data-led shift means growing resources like New AutoMotive’s ElectricCar.Guide, a dedicated consumer site targeted at shifting the mainstream, or their Electric Advocates Network, an interactive hub that shares stories from EV converts, from loyal petrol-heads through to first time drivers. By providing accessible data on the reality of owning an electric car, as well as the possible cost savings, such as through New AutoMotive’s savings calculator, we can incentivise consumers and accelerate the transition. 

Concluding remarks 

After a year of being a Subak member organisation, New AutoMotive have gone from strength to strength in their work which connects marketing, technology and policy to ensure consumer-focused change. With the support of Subak, New AutoMotive has been able to develop their data analysis capabilities, further communicate their data to a wider audience, and receive funding to support the development of new products.