Data released last week from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd (SMMT) showed plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales unusually higher than Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations in April. PHEVs took a 6.8% share of all new car registrations compared to 6.5% for BEVs. In this ‘Chart of the week’, we reflect on the first quarter of 2021 for electric vehicle (EV) sales and explore drivers behind these trends.
The latest SMMT data saw EV sales broadly follow the trend seen in recent months, accounting for just over one in eight vehicles, or 13.2% of new vehicle registrations in April 2021. 9,152 BEVs were registered last month compared to 9,600 PHEVs, with the SMMT citing cuts to the Plug-in Car Grant impacting on BEV sales.