'Best month ever' for battery electric vehicle sales

Nearly a quarter of vehicles sold in the UK last month were battery electric (BEV) models, according to industry figures.

More than 72,000 new BEVs were registered in September, accounting for 23.3% of the total market, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

It described the figures - a 29% rise on the 56,000 BEVs sold in September 2024 - as "the best month on record for BEV volumes".

The motor lobby group attributed the increase to the government's Electric Car Grant scheme, as well as factors such as the "ever-increasing choice of models" in the sector.

More than 20,000 consumers have taken advantage since the £650m grant scheme was launched earlier this summer. It offers discounts of up to £3,750 on 36 electric models.

Overall, the SMMT said just over 50% of the 312,887 new vehicles registered last month were electric models, including both hybrid and battery types.

The total number of newly registered cars and other vehicles was up nearly 14% compared to last year, the best September performance since 2020, it added.

Manufacturers have been set a target of ensuring 28% of vehicles sold this year must be electric, although the mandate was relaxed earlier this year to include hybrid as well as battery-only cars.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: "Electrified vehicles are powering market growth after a sluggish summer - and with record ZEV [zero emission vehicles] uptake, massive industry investment is paying off, despite demand still trailing ambition.

"The Electric Car Grant will help to break down one of the barriers holding back more drivers from making the switch - and tackling remaining roadblocks, by unlocking infrastructure investment and driving down energy costs, will be crucial to the success of the industry and the environmental goals we share."

However, the SMMT said more still needed to be done to "re-energise" private buyers to switch to electric.

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Commenting on the figures, Colin Walker, from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: "Demand for electric cars is up again and factoring in the flexibilities the car industry lobbied for in the UK's EV policy, sales are now ahead of where they need to be to hit this year's target.

"That would be two years in a row that the targets would have been hit and drivers are making hundreds of pounds of savings each year by making the switch to electric."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added: "Our discounts have sparked a surge in electric car sales, making them cheaper and within reach of more households than ever before."