Electric Cars. The boom is real but fragile.
Half of new cars sold in the UK last month were electric or hybrid. It sounds like we went green overnight, but the headline hides a few things.
THE GIST ON ELECTRIC CARS: "Mandates, not choice"
What do the numbers say?
Car sales jumped 14% in September, and 50% of them were classified as electrified. But the headline hides a few things.
What is hiding in the figure?
It includes hybrids, which still burn petrol. Buyers rushed to buy EVs before government regulations and fines kicked in. And manufacturers heavily discounted prices to hit targets.
This wasn't millions of families going out to buy EVs. It was policy, accounting and bulk deals. The boom isn't fake, but it's fragile.
What is holding adoption back?
If you drive an EV, you'll know the infrastructure feels patchy: chargers are inconsistent, the grid is under pressure, and resale values are collapsing. Outside company fleets, private demand is very hesitant.
Huw says much of the green transition is driven by mandates and subsidies, not pure consumer choice. The future of EVs is less about buyers and more about whether government and the grid can keep up.
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Quick answers
Why is the 50% electrified figure misleading?
It includes hybrids that still burn petrol, a rush before regulations, and heavy manufacturer discounts to hit targets.
Who is buying EVs?
Mostly company fleets, according to Huw; private demand is very hesitant.
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