UK Records 86,120 EV Registrations in March

In March, the United Kingdom recorded its highest-ever number of battery electric vehicle registrations, with 86,120 new models entering the roads, a 24.2 percent increase from the previous year. The surge, driven by escalating fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, contributed to a broader rise in electrified vehicle sales totaling 196,059 units, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The overall new car market also expanded, with 380,627 registrations marking a 6.6 percent year-on-year gain and the strongest monthly performance since 2019. Plugin hybrid registrations jumped 46.9 percent, while hybrid electric vehicles rose 7.3 percent. March's traditional boost from the annual number plate change played a role, as buyers often delay purchases until this period. Officials noted that many of these sales stemmed from orders placed before the conflict intensified at the end of February.

Fuel costs provided a key catalyst for the shift toward electric options. Average unleaded petrol prices climbed about 18 percent to 157 pence per liter, while diesel surged by a third to 189 pence per liter, based on data from the RAC. The...