By Paul Homewood
https://insideevs.com/news/629901/uk-plugin-car-sales-december2022/
Electric vehicle sales have been steadily increasing over the past few years. Last year, the total number of BEV (Battery Only) registrations was 267,000, representing 16% of all cars, increasing by 77,000 in 2021 (the chart also includes hybrids).
However, at that rate of increase, BEV sales will only reach about 900,000 by 2030, about half of total sales.
But is this increase sustainable? If we ignore the overall numbers and zoom in to see which models are on sale, we get a much more variable picture:
https://insideevs.com/news/629901/uk-plugin-car-sales-december2022/
Teslas that make up a fifth of total BEV sales are priced at £44,990 and £42,990 respectively, based on RRP. The Niro and ID.3 are only slightly cheaper at £36795 and £39254, respectively, while Polestar, BMW and Audi are more expensive than Tesla.
There are only two cars on the list for under £30,000 – the Leaf and Mini for £28,995 and £29,000 respectively, and these cars account for just 6% of EV sales. This Top 10 list accounts for almost half of all BEV sales.
Simply put, most of the cars on the list are completely out of pocket for the vast majority of drivers, such as the Leaf and electric Mini. BEV has not yet managed to break into the mass market.
A look at the Best Sellers list shows where the market is located:
https://insideevs.com/news/629901/uk-plugin-car-sales-december2022/
Tesla aside, the most expensive car on the list is the Kuga, which costs £30,755. The Qashqai and Corsa retail for £26,405 and £18,065 respectively. There is currently absolutely no indication that owners of any of these vehicles will replace them with an EV. Part of the reason, of course, is cost. But a major factor is also the impossibility of BEVs for most motorists,
The type of driver who can afford $50,000 for an Audi Q4 will most likely have a second car in the garage for longer trips.
The simple fact is that there is only limited demand for the premium cars that currently dominate the electric vehicle sector; and many of these sales are for company cars, purchased primarily for tax reasons.
Until BEVs can make their way into the mass market arena, it’s hard to see how they can be more than just a niche product. (At least, that is, until proper automobiles are banned!)
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