As part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and clean up the countrys air quality, the UK government has outlined plans to go greener by 2040 by banning the sale of all new diesel and petrol cars. This announcement has pushed many consumers towards cleaner and greener alternatives – and the electric vehicle market has been thriving as a result. By the last quarter of 2017, new EV registrations had reached record numbers of over 130,000 and his figure is expected to rise again by the end of this year. Here, Grange vehicles, retailers of used Land Rover Discovery and other luxury vehicles explore how the electric vehicle market has been progressing and make some predictions for the future.
New technology in the automotive industry
Manufacturers in the automotive market have been focusing increasingly in adapting their offerings for a more eco-conscious consumer. Jaguar and Land Rover are late comers to the electric vehicle market, only recently introducing their first all-electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-Pace concept. But that hasn’t stopped them from pulling out all the stops to catch up, by announcing that they plan to be all electric by 2020 – a big step into the EV industry for new comers. This news followed Volvo’s pledge to do the same but by 2019. The prestige brand promises that all new models produced and registered from 2020 will be fully electric or hybrid – and that their customers will have more choice moving forward.
It was recently announced that Jaguar Land Rover will open a new UK electric vehicle manufacturing factory. The new car plant would be similar to the Nissan factory in Sunderland and would increase the production of new electric vehicles. Whilst it is not confirmed, the plan is a big step towards the brand committing to their EV plan.
A number of manufacturers have followed suit, with Nissan leading the way in EV sales. They are the brains behind the second most popular electric model in retail, and the bestselling all electric model in the UK, the Nissan Leaf – with over 30,500 units sold in the UK, and over 300,000 units worldwide. And with the launch of its newest model, could the Leaf take the top spot. The new model has a battery mileage range that is double the range of its previous models. An issue that was apparent for all manufacturers, not just Nissan.
Nissan workers have been focusing on advancing their current vehicle range. The 2011 Nissan Leaf had a range of just 75 miles, but progress in the industry has since taken huge leaps towards its new 235 mile range – progress that could be intrinsic to the future success of the model, and for the industry. Additionally, they also fitted the first one pedal driving system – an optional system that allows you to transform the accelerator into an e-pedal to function as a start, stop, accelerate and brake pedal.
Technological advancements in the electric vehicle market have changed the auto industry for good. Drivers have realised the harmful effects of their petrol and diesel automobiles, and the government’s plans are underway. In addition, consumers all over the UK have been trading in their used cars for greener alternatives, so manufacturers must keep up with the demand. To survive the transition, now is the time to come up with an electric vehicle plan. For automotive manufacturers, they need to get their head in the EV game to survive the market.