In August, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) became the most popular powertrain in the UK car market, capturing 30% of the market share. This figure represents an increase from 23% during the same period last year. Conventional hybrids followed closely with 29%, while petrol vehicles accounted for 22%.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) held 14% of the market, recording the highest growth rate at 44% compared to the previous year. Combined, plug-in vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) made up 44% of the total market share in August.
The UK government has established several targets for EV adoption. The current goal is to reach 80% EV sales by 2030, with a total ban on new combustion-engine vehicle sales by 2035. The target for the end of this year is 33% EV sales, though the advocacy group New AutoMotive estimates the actual target is 24.6% when accounting for manufacturer credits.
Despite the market being on pace to meet or exceed these goals, the UK government has launched a consultation to review whether current EV targets should be maintained or potentially rolled back.
