New data has revealed shows that private ownership of hybrid electric vehicles risen by 83% in the past three years.
Ownership of fully electric vehicles risen by 178%, finds A-plan insurance analysts who looked at data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
The region with the highest increase in hybrid electric vehicles is Northern Ireland, with a 133% increase in ownership.
England is the region with the lowest increase in hybrid electric vehicles, having only a 78% increase over the last three years.
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For fully electric vehicles, Wales has the highest increase in private ownership, with 210%. In comparison, Northern Ireland has only a 171% increase making it the region with the lowest increase.
A Welsh government report from 2020 showed that there were only 302 charging points across the whole of Wales, with the highest number being found in Cardiff. The Welsh government announced grants to help install electric charging points at homes and businesses.
As of July 2023, the number of charge points in the UK reached 45,737, a 40% increase over 2022. Of these, 32% are in the Greater London area alone. 8.9% are in Scotland, 4.2% are in Wales and only 1% are in Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson for A-plan commented on the findings: “Used vehicles have historically been a cheaper option for young drivers; however, car tax changes and increases in fuel prices have made older cars much more expensive to drive and maintain.
“On average, an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle costs around £10-£15 less than an equivalent petrol journey; however, the upfront cost of an electric vehicle is much higher,” the spokesperson continued.
“Used hybrid and electric vehicles are available but come at a higher price than their petrol counterparts.
“Infrastructure improvements and financial grants to make hybrid or fully electric vehicles more appealing are essential to meet the zero emissions goals,” the spokesperson concluded.
