In the past years, diesel vehicles have always sold more than EVs and petrol-powered cars. However, the latest reports indicate a decrease of around 38.9% in overall sales. While petrol vehicles had the most sales, electric vehicles are not far behind with a UK market share of 32.9%.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders or SMMT revealed the latest figures for 2022, which showed a total market share of 16.6% for pure EVs. They’re not as dominant as petrol vehicles, but at least they now sell more than hybrid and diesel-powered cars.
Most of the car sales were for fleets and business vehicles (with 66.7% sales), while only half of the total 2022 sales were for private cars. Most owners of private vehicles have yet to be convinced that EVs are safer and more cost-efficient for them. Their common complaint is the limited number of EV chargers. With current developments in the EV industry, this shouldn’t be a problem anymore.
Reports from the SMMT also showed proof that CO2 or carbon dioxide emissions from new vehicles were significantly lower at 11.4g/kilometre.
Zap-Map report on EV chargers
As already mentioned, car owners often think twice about switching to electric vehicles because of the lack of charging hubs. However, mapping service Zap-Map recently outlined the latest achievements in the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the UK, and it involves electric vehicle chargers.
For 2022, the number of newly installed EV chargers increased by around 30% (or over 8,000). From over 28,400, the number of chargers increased to 37,261 by the end of the year. This figure set a record for the UK with the biggest growth in charge points installed in a year.
The most significant increase was for high-speed charging hubs. New high-speed hubs, all 106 of them, have rapid/ultra-rapid charging devices numbering four or more. At the end of 2021, these hubs only totalled 189; by December 2022, this increased by 56%, which is equivalent to 295 high-speed EV charging hubs.
High-speed charging hubs consisting of seven or more charging devices also increased from 89 in 2021 to 128 by December 2022.
More ultra-rapid charging hubs will be installed throughout 2023.
Around 11,559 charging devices were installed in the Greater London area, a 26% increase from the 2021 total of 9,160. The South East area also has one of the highest numbers of devices installed in 2022 while the West Midlands had 2,816 charging devices in 2022, a 52% increase from 2021’s total of 1,854.
What still needs to be done
The UK government is still a long way from achieving its goal of installing 300,000 (and a maximum of 720,000) chargers by 2030. They’re still at the 30,000 mark, more or less.
Factors that they need to deal with include a limited supply chain, higher production costs, and erratic vital parts and semiconductors supply.
Why is electric better?
Electric vehicles are better because they do not contribute to air pollution. They help improve the quality of air around you. Diesel-powered vehicles, on the other hand, emit toxic emissions. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is one of diesel cars’ most dangerous emissions, especially since it can cause an extensive list of health conditions and environmental impacts.
NOx was also the focus of the controversial Dieselgate scandal that involves some of the world’s biggest car brands. The diesel emissions scam started in 2015 after US authorities revealed that VW and Audi diesel vehicles sold in the American market allegedly had defeat devices in them. These devices are used to control emissions so vehicles can pass the regulatory test.
The defeat device can sense when a vehicle is under testing, so it automatically reduces emissions to within legal limits. It falsifies emissions. When the vehicle is back on real roads, though, it emits excessive amounts of NOx.
VW had to recall all the affected vehicles and pay off fines. This didn’t stop other carmakers from using the defeat devices as well. Renault is just one of the manufacturers that are under the scrutiny of emissions authorities. In 2017, authorities embroiled the French carmaker in the Dieselgate fiasco as they started investigating the carmaker’s vehicles.
Authorities believe these carmakers lied to their customers and placed more value on making a profit than keeping the public safe.
How NOx affects your health
Nitrogen oxide has nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO), dangerous gases that cause numerous environmental and health impacts.
Aside from destroying vegetation, NOx also weakens your mental health thereby increasing your risk of developing depression and anxiety. Your cognitive health may decline as well, and you’ll become susceptible to dementia.
Various health conditions, such as asthma, COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease may manifest. Exposure to NOx emissions can also lead to premature death. Thousands of early deaths across the world every year are linked to air pollution.
These impacts are the reason authorities never fail to remind affected drivers that they can file a diesel claim against their carmaker.
How should I file my diesel claim?
Start your diesel claim by visiting ClaimExperts.co.uk so you can verify your eligibility to claim compensation. Once you’re done, sit down with an emissions expert and discuss the advantages of joining a group litigation action. It’s your best option if you want a higher chance of winning your emission claim.