According to the research, an expected one million electric vehicles will be registered on UK roads over the coming five years, bringing with it a spike in the number of home chargers. Analysis of sales trends by Andersen has found that 362,270 wall boxes could be installed in UK driveways and garages over the next five years based on current installation rates, adding to the current crop of 120,000.
Andersen, a British manufacturer and installer of high-end home charging points, is predicting 2020 to be a tipping point for electric vehicle uptake, following January sales that were four times as high as the same period last year.
The electric vehicle market grew by 132% in the year to May 2020, compared to a 66% drop in petrol vehicles, and a 54% drop in diesel, over the same period; triggered by the government’s announcement in February that all petrol and diesel cars would be banned in the UK by 2035.
The low emissions charge is set to continue as the number of electric models on the market is predicted to rise from 60 to over 176 by the end of 2020. Recent changes to the UK vehicle excise duty system saw electric vehicles become exempt from benefit-in-kind tax, further enhancing their appeal for fleet buyers.
The EV market has demonstrated resilience in the new COVID-19 environment - battery-electric vehicles and PHEVs have both increased year-on-year sales over the first quarter, a story mirrored across the globe, as one in seven new cars in Europe no longer just has a combustion engine.
Jerome Faissat, Commercial Director of Andersen, said: “At Andersen, we’re in no doubt that electric vehicles are the future. As we move towards a ‘new normal’ in the wake of the coronavirus, we’ve seen clear evidence that people want to change their habits so that they can move forward in a way that is more mindful.
"Over the past three months, pollution has fallen in our cities and we’ve enjoyed the cleanest air we’ve had in decades, and it’s inspired many to rethink the way they get around. We’re seeing people vote with their feet – as they make the switch to an electric car, bike or scooter.
“Going electric is more than an ethical choice. It’s a choice to embrace the future. Our message is clear: If we work together, we can help encourage take up of electric vehicles and make our communities cleaner and safer.”
