2011 UK EV sales to end October

1221. That's right, EV sales in the UK for the 10 months to the end of October were a miserable 1,221 units, 80% of which were fleet sales. True that is more than the 116 units sold during 2010, but the figure falls far short of expectations.

The sales were achieved with the £5,000 Plug-In Car grant, so automakers are hoping that the scheme will be extended into the next fiscal (year to march 2013) and will be broadened to include electric vans as well. Certainly with the range extended Vauxhall Ampera / Chevy Volt and the Renault Z.E. range of Fluence, Kangoo and Zoe to come plus the Ford Focus electric, all less expensive vehicles, it would be a great shame if the grant programme were not extended.