Pay-per-mile warning as figures published today | Tech News

November marked the electric car market’s slowest growth period in virtually two years, new information reveals. A complete of 39,965 new pure battery electric autos have been registered final month, in keeping with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

This represented a 3.6% increase in contrast with November 2024, marking the smallest year-on-year rise since December 2023, when registrations dropped by 34.2%. That steep decline was blamed on provide chain disruptions and an unusually sturdy December 2022.

The broader new car market contracted by 1.6% final month, with 151,154 new autos registered. The SMMT attributed this sixth month-to-month decline in registrations this yr to a 5.5% fall in demand from non-public consumers.

Fleet purchases by companies or different organisations rose marginally by 0.2%.

SMMT chief government Mike Hawes stated: “Even in a fragile market, zero emission vehicle uptake continues to rise, which is exactly what we need. But the weakest growth for almost two years – ahead of Government announcing a new tax on EVs (electric vehicles) – should be seen as a wake-up call that sustained increase in demand for EVs cannot be taken for granted.

“We needs to be taking each alternative to encourage drivers to make the change, not punishing them for doing so, else the ambitions of Government and industry shall be thwarted.”

In the recent Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that from April 2028, drivers of battery electric vehicles will be levied a charge of 3p per mile for electric Vehicle Excise Duty. The move came as a response to a significant decrease in fuel duty revenue as more motorists transition from petrol or diesel cars to EVs.

Battery electric vehicles took a market share of 22.7% during the first 11 months of the year. Under the Government’s zero-emission vehicle mandate, at least 28.0% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK in 2025 are required to be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. But green consultancy New Automotive said its analysis shows this year’s EV sales target is 21.7% once flexibilities are taken into account.

Melanie Lane, chief executive at EV charging provider Pod, said: “A growth slowdown in November proves that now is the wrong time to introduce taxes on EV drivers and that further cost pressures for manufacturers and fleet managers will keep the sector from achieving a 28% market share target set by ZEV mandate.

“The complete price of proudly owning an EV is decrease than ICE and the intention from drivers is there – however the Government wants to offer customers and the market more confidence with a view to maintain demand, yield returns on its own Electric Car Grant investment and generate growth for the UK over the long time period.”