Majority of plug-in cars registered to businesses

Most plug-in cars are registered to businesses rather than people, with some 58.8% of all electric cars on the road company registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Motorparc data.

Electric vehicle (EV) use has risen by 71% to 748,349 cars, vans, buses and trucks, with growth in all sectors, the data found.

The SMMT said the data shows that businesses receive ‘broader’ and ‘more generous’ incentives to make the switch than those offered to private consumers.

Overall, the number of vehicles in the UK grew 0.4% to 40,506,971 in 2021, but car ownership fell 0.2% to 35,023,652 vehicles – the second year in a row the car parc has fallen and the first time the UK has experienced consecutive falls in more than a century.

However, EV ownership continues to grow, as nearly three quarters of a million vehicles on the road can be plugged in, including 720,053 cars, 26,990 vans, 993 buses and 313 trucks.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Britain’s switch to electric vehicles continues to gather pace, with a record one in five new car registrations now plug-ins. However, they still represent around one in 50 cars on the road, so there is significant ground to cover if we are to fully decarbonise road transport at pace.

“The first consecutive annual fall in vehicle numbers in more than a century shows how significantly the pandemic has impacted the industry, leading Britons to hold onto their cars for longer. With fleet renewal essential to net zero, we must build consumer confidence in the economy and, for drivers, confidence in the charging infrastructure to get the transition into top gear.”

The Motorparc data also found that 28.7% of fleet vehicles were more than 12 years old, 20.8% four-six years old, seven-nine years old (19.75), less than three years old (15.8%) and 15.0% were 10-12 years old.

The number of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the road increased by 4.3% to 4,804,833, while the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) sector saw a 2.5% uplift, with 604,035 trucks.

Company Car in Action (CCIA) is offering visitors free-to-attend seminar sessions over the two days covering transitioning to EVs. 

Expert speakers offering real-world case studies and best practice solutions will present during the event and be on hand to answer your questions. 

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