Some 28,063 new electric cars found homes last month, with EVs making up 29.8% of the market.
But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which compiled the data, warns that year-to-date EV sales are still lingering at 25.6%, well below the 33% mandated by government.
The organisation also cautions that percentages can be moved by relatively minor swings in August due to traditionally low sales, with many buyers either on holiday or awaiting September’s new number plate, in this case the ‘76’ registration.
Nonetheless, dealerships had their busiest August since the bi-annual number-plate change was introduced in 1999, with 94,236 new cars registered last month.
Sales of plug-in hybrids rose 39.8% compared to the same month last year, while plugless hybrids were up 26.3%. Combined, petrol/diesel-electric cars made up 27.2% of the market. Petrol cars held a 38.3% share, with diesel maintaining a presence of just 4.8%.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes called the figures “a bright spot for the new car market” but said that while EV sales were “strong”, the government’s forthcoming review of the EV mandate, which determines the proportion of sales that must go to electric cars, “is the right move so we can ensure the transition is kept on track”.
