The electric vehicle revolution

Electric vehicles are nothing new. In 1910, Thomas Edison said: “Electric cars are the future of transportation.”

Little over 100 years later, that prediction is finally coming true and electric cars have come a long way. The electric vehicle revolution is here and it could turn out to be more dramatic than anyone has yet realised.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales saw significant growth in 2020, with a 343.7% increase in December 2020.

This is in comparison to December 2019, where BEVs held just 3.3% of the market share, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This soared to a 16.5% share in 2020, with 21,914 cars sold.

Overall in 2020, demand for BEVs grew by 185.9%, with 108,205 cars sold in the year.

When combined with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), the majority of the registrations (68%) were for company cars, which the SMMT said shows that private buyers “need stronger incentives to make the switch” as well as more investment in charging infrastructure.

"The electric car is on its way, and its on its way with real vengeance"

Ian Callum, Director Of Design, Jaguar Cars

It is predicted a ‘tipping point’ will be reached in 2021, when electric vehicles’s become a more economic option than traditional petrol or diesel cars.

There has been a huge increase in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid models available in the UK, with each of the 10 best-selling brands now offering an EV as part of their model range.

Audi, Nissan, Ford, Volvo, Volkswagen, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Renault, Toyota, Kia and of course Tesla, are among those investing billions in new generation electric vehicles.

Even Bentley is developing its own all-electric car.