Electric car and van leasing service Drive Electric has predicted there will be over 330,000 new EV registrations this year.
This follows its accurate 2021 forecast of 200,000 new EV registrations last year – the grand total was 191,000. The company added it was happy its 2020 predictions were exceeded by 10,000.
According to Drive Electric, factors driving the increase in EV registration includes the increase in publicly available charging points, with improved reliability of this infrastructure making it even easier to charge an EV across the UK.
Additionally, it said businesses going green and being ever-more mindful of corporate carbon footprints will help push up the EV numbers.
While nine OEMs opening new EV factories during 2022, with 12 of these factories expected to start production this year, will also help.
Read more: Ellesmere Port plant set for all EV production from 2022
There are issues however including a global shortage of raw materials and components; namely semiconductors. This shortage is expected to last until around mid-2022.
Furthermore, energy prices continuing to rise over the next 12 months could also slow the EV switch, Drive Electric said. This will not be helped by the home charger grant ending in March.
Drive Electric’s managing director, Mike Potter, said: “EV registrations will continue to increase, however issues such as the semiconductor shortage will still have an impact on the availability of vehicles as we enter 2022.
“We see this challenge improving by mid-2022 and sales for the remainder of the year should offset the slow start, helped by yet more new EV models coming to market.”
The EV leasing company also loved further ahead, it predicted that by 2025 round 50% of new registrations will be EVs. It said this will be achieved as the residual values of traditional cars fall and the cost of leasing them increases.
