Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly common, but still only account for a small proportion of total car sales in the UK. Although sales of EVs in the UK have reached a record high, representing one in every 12 new cars purchased in 2018, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders points out that hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric cars make up just eight per cent of the overall market.
Richard Fields, an electrochemical engineer at the University of Manchester, says “a big upfront cost” and “a distinct lack of infrastructure” are the main reasons for the slow uptake of EVs. “Even if people have the purchasing power to get an EV, without convenient charging points, they may be put off.”
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