Registrations of pure electric cars topped 1,000 in the UK; in a year which saw the market for new cars shrink by 4.4 per cent.
What’s more over 23,000 hybrids sold in the UK through 2011, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal. In total, 1052 vehicles eligible for the Government’s Plugged in Car Grant sold, taking just 5.26 million of the £250 million allocated for the consumer incentive. While that might seem small, it is hoped that 2012 will see the interest in the grants- worth £5,000 to buyers of electric and plug-in hybrid models-grow as further models become available. 2012 will see the launch of models such as the Toyota Prius plug-in, Chevrolet Volt, Vauxhall Ampera and Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid.
In all, the market for alternative fuel vehicles grew near 80 per cent (79.1%) in 2011, while the market for petrol/electric hybrids increased 5.6 per cent. Both diesel and alternative fuel cars took record market shares last year, with diesel models now accounting for 50.6 per cent of market and AFVs with 1.3 per cent.
In total, 1,941,253 vehicles sold in 2011, down 4.4 per cent on 2010, but ahead of the 1.92 million forecast by the society.
Registrations of new cars in December fell 3.7 per cent overall, the 10th monthly decline in the year, but both hybrid and electric cars performed well, recording a 33 per cent increase and a 170 per cent increase respectively. To put that into figures, 27 electric cars and 1,777 hybrids sold last month in the UK.
The Ford Fiesta was the best selling new car for the full year, with the VW Golf the best selling diesel model. The supermini segment remained the largest in the UK, with a market share almost unchanged on 2010 at 36.3 per cent. However the market for cars classed as executive, luxury saloon and dual purpose also recorded growth in registrations in 2011.
The average new car CO2 emission level fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, 4.2 per cent down on the 2010 level and 23.7 per cent below the 2000 figure of 181.0g/km.
