DfT data shows double-digit increase for new electric cars and vans

There were 86,000 zero emission cars registered for the first time in July to September, according to new figures from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Zero emission cars accounted for 17% of all new car registrations during the quarter, representing an increase of 42%, compared to the same quarter in 2022.

Zero emission vehicle (ZEV) registrations include battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

The new DfT vehicle registration figures show that there were also 5,600 zero emission light goods vehicles (LGVs) registered for the first time during the quarter, accounting for 6.2% of all new LGV registrations, an increase of 55% in vehicle numbers, compared to the same quarter in 2022.

Since July 2018, people with a category B driving licence can also drive alternatively fuelled vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes (which are classified as heavy goods vehicles, those over 3.5 tonnes) with some additional training.

Fleet News has reported that the Government is looking at how it can further remove the burden of additional regulations governing the use of these electric vans.

The DfT introduced a series of changes in October for the operation of 4.25-tonne zero emission vans following a Government consultation.

They included the removal the additional five-hour training requirement for drivers.

However, with the heavy electric vans classed as HGVs, fleets have been calling for progress on a range of other issues, including an MOT being required after 12 months and tachograph regulations coming into effect if the vehicle travels more than 100kms from base.

DfT data shows that 63% of zero emission HGVs were in this category (over 3.5 tonnes up to 4.25 tonnes) at the end of 2022.

The graph below shows new zero emission registrations of cars and LGVs as a percentage of all new registrations in the quarter since 2018.

This percentage has increased every year since 2018 for both cars and LGVs, however, 2023 saw a small decrease for LGVs.

In Q3, zero emission cars accounted for 17% of new vehicle registrations, with zero emission LGVs accounting for 6%.

New vehicle registrations up 22%

Overall, the DfT data reveals that the number of new registrations was up 22% in the UK.

Comparing Q3 with the same quarter in 2022, there were 670,000 vehicles registered for the first time in the UK, up 22%. 

It means that at the end of September, there were 41.3 million licensed vehicles in the UK, an increase of 1.4% compared to the end of September 2022.

That included 942,000 licensed zero emission vehicles, an increase of 56% compared to the end of September 2022. 

The majority of those 942,000 licensed zero emission vehicles were zero emission cars (864,000 units), an increase of 58% on the previous year.

Zero emission vehicles, overall, accounted for 2.3% of all road using vehicles, compared to 1.5% at the end of September 2022.

The latest new car sales data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that of the 24,359 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) reaching the road in November, more than three out four (77.4%) were taken on by fleets and businesses.

Fleet and business registrations now stand at 988,155 units (year-to-date) – a 37% increase on the 719,505 new cars registered to the sector over the same time period last year.

It means that fleet and business new car registrations account for 56% of the new car market, compared to holding a 48% market share this time last year.