Plug-in car sales grew by 140% in 2020

Sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars soared last year, with more than 175,000 vehicles registered representing a growth of 140%.

The figures confirm that, for the first time, one in 10 cars registered in the UK last year were electric, with one EV registered every three minutes.

Across 2020, 108,205 fully electric vehicles were registered, up 185% year-on-year. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid registrations rose by 91%, amassing 66,877 units.

This means the total number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered in the UK is fast approaching the half-a-million mark (409,330).

New company car tax rates helped drive the increased adoption.

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “The increase in uptake of EVs never ceases to impress me. While there were less than a handful of EVs to choose from in 2011, there are now more than 100 models available and for the first time ever, manufacturers are scheduled to bring more brand-new EVs to market than either petrol or diesel models. 2020 really was just the start of the electric revolution, and we’re looking forward to helping even more consumers and businesses begin their EV journey.” 

The Tesla Model 3 topped the overall best-sellers list for two months of the year (April and December), while the BMW 3 Series established itself as the most popular plug-in hybrid. 

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean added: “In what has been a difficult year for the wider car market, it’s encouraging to see that EV sales have dramatically increased over the year. This government is going further and faster than ever before to decarbonise transport and this is welcome news as we accelerate towards a cleaner, greener transport future.”