Electric vehicles have yet to make a
significant impact on the European auto market, with fewer than six
in 10,000 car sales being an EV.
Data sourced by JATO Dynamics reveals that out
of 6,629,818 European car sales in the first five months of 2011,
just 3,714 were EVs (0.056 percent). SMMT statistics show that out
of 846,513 UK car registrations in the first five months, 509 were
EVs. UK EV market penetration, at 0.06 percent, is slightly higher
than the European average.
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Almost all UK EV sales were Nissan Leaf
vehicles registered in March and April (The Leaf went on sale in
March and 218 were sold in that month alone).
JATO vice-president of research Gareth Hession
acknowledges there is interest in EVs, but that it is mostly
limited to wealthy ‘early adopters’, who often buy them as a
supplement to their conventionally powered vehicle. There may also
be a problem, Hession contends, when the early adopters try to sell
on their EVs in a few years’ time, there being no guarantee that a
market will exist for them.
The JATO report demonstrates that EVs are much
cheaper when it comes to fuel costs – a Leaf costs 6p a mile less
to run than a VW Golf Bluemotion, for instance. However, at around
£7,000 less to buy, (even with a £5,000 government incentive
towards the Leaf), the Golf is the more financially attractive
option.
Further doubt is cast by Hession regarding the
long-term viability of the EV, as he highlights uncertainty about
future residual values, and the specialist service and maintenance
EVs require, which may be expensive and less readily available.
“It’s clear that the inconvenience factor will be as much a concern
as cost for many, making EVs a tough choice on the forecourt,”
Hession says.
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By GlobalDataHe also points out that, despite zero tailpipe
emissions, EVs still have a carbon footprint of 81g/km (the
Bluemotion emits 99g/km) because much of the electricity generated
to power them is produced by burning fossil fuels. He concedes,
however, that true comparisons with conventional vehicles are
difficult because of the additional CO2 generated in the
production and transport of fuel.
Hession says that, despite low performance
expectations, EVs provide an excellent driving experience:
“refined, very quiet and responsive to the challenge of inner city
driving, where quick reflexes and agility are key”. But he
concludes: “Clearly it’s going to take a lot more than that to
increase their attractiveness beyond the early adopter. The
financial and environmental arguments need strengthening in order
for the ‘electric era’ to become a reality.”
