Electric car sales are still struggling, with just 308 models bought through the Government’s grant scheme during the third quarter of the year.
A subsidy of up to £5,000 has been available to buyers of EVs since January, but despite the discount, motorists have proved reluctant to move away from conventional cars. Just 465 electric vehicles were registered in the first quarter of the year, and the number more than halved to 215 in the second quarter.
The rapid decline in sales suggests that even a £5,000 discount is not enough of an incentive to tempt motorists into electric cars. A total of £43million is available through the electric car grant scheme – enough for 8,6000 cars – but it seems unlikely that even a fraction of that will be used. So far, less than £4million of available grant money has been spent.
The situation in the UK mirrors the lack of interest in electric cars across Europe. Research by JATO Dynamics shows that the number of people buying EVs remains low even in countries that are offering as much as £18,000 in subsidies.
Just 85 electric vehicles were purchased in Belgium in the first half of 2011, despite the available 10,907 euro (£9,496) subsidy. Over the same period, a mere 850 EVs found homes in Norway, despite a hefty 17,524 euro (£15,256) incentive. And 238 cars were bought in Denmark where the Government tempts buyers with an incredible 20,588 euros (£17,924) in grants and subsidies.
Update: this story has been amended. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have contacted Auto Express to inform us that the figure of 106 EV sales for Q3 published by the Office of Low Emission Vehicles is incorrect.
But what would it take for you to buy an electric car? Tell us below...
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When electric cars start featuring a >400 km range and can recharge for
Lets face it,when the entire country is struggling with recession. Who is going to put the risk of them getting to work behind an emergent technology that still doesn't have a very good support infrastructure. Each brand of EV has a different support requirement and technique, so until all EVs jump behind one brand/standard of support and charging people will be uncertain. It's like the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD battle all over again and the VHS Betamax before that. Then couple this with the problem that most EVs will need their batteries replacing in 5-10 years not a lot of people like being forced down that route especially when my m8s Prius just had to have it's batteries replaced and it cost him £5k to do so. How many mineral guzzlers do you know have to have nearly the cost of another car spent on them 5 years after purchasing them brand new?
If the government thinks electric cars are so wonderful why don't they mandate that all cars purchase for use by themselves and civil servants are electric. That way they could solve the problem they have of ensuring a significant proportion of new cars sold are electric, and they would also quickly realise how impractical and senseless they are too.
The technology is not there, as simple as that. Rechargable batteries don't realy work, fuel cells are still expensive and unreliable. Again, if electric cars can provide 400km range, recharge in 5 minutes and give a performance of at least 100-150bhp standard vehicle I may be converted. For now advancement in ICE technology is the more competitive option.
Hydrogen is the only way to go. End of argument.
They must be concerned about backing the wrong technology, compared to those who've gone the hybrid or range-extender route.
Also some red faces amongst the motoring journalists on the COTY panel!
Why would anyone buy one, really? Until you can recharge them in less than a second, NO ONE will buy these crates of crap, they all look ridiculous, which isnt great, and they can go the length of a street before they need charging for 8 hours.
No thanks.
lmao, good. Shows that not everyone is tree hugging morons. Electric cars are hypocritical as they only move the pollution to the power station, They take forever to charge, they are crap, most look like sh#t or shout out Im a greeny or nerd.
I think for now they are too expensive, people should also be more informed about how cheap they are to drive 100 miles compared to petrol or diesel.
Once recharge times are improved that's the key.
Masan already have already got recharge times down to 10 mins, more than enough!
If that technology is in Leaf II and it costs 5-10K cheaper I think they will sell much better!
With 308 EV's sold at a cost of £5,000 of tax payers money. the government has shelled out over £1.5million! This makes little sense when EV's are overpriced and too new to buy into and when other areas of government policy are going down the drain. It'd have made much more sense to put this towards something useful rather than EV's!
Having re-read the article, replace my maths with the figures quoted in the article. £43million available for EV purchases just proves how nonsensical and idiotic this scheme is. Put the money towards something useful!