Electric vehicles sales nearly double in Norwich & Ipswich in a year
Sales in Norwich increased from 4.51% to 7.61% while purchases in Ipswich went from 4.48% to 7.73%, over the same period
Last updated 21st Sep 2021
Data from New AutoMotive, a transport research group shows the sales of electric vehicles in Norwich and Ipswich has nearly doubled in the last year.
Sales in Norwich increased from 4.51% to 7.61% while purchases in Ipswich went from 4.48% to 7.73%, over the same period.
East Anglia now ranks 8th out of all UK regions for electric vehicle uptake. As it stands 10.5% of new vehicles sold in the region are fully electric. That figure stood at 5.3% just 12 months ago.
Ben Nelmes, Head of Policy and Research at the group predicts this trend will continue.
"Lots of people are discovering the benefits of switching to electric vehicles. Whether its the money they can save on petrol or the better driving experience".
"I think the uptick in more rural areas, like Norfolk and Suffolk, is specifically related to the fact that there are far more models on offer now."
He told us that Norfolk and Suffolk is currently well prepared for electric drivers.
"When you're on an A road you're never more than 25 miles away from a rapid charger. There's more chargers than people think and its growing quickly. The challenge now for local authorities is to make sure that the infrastructure keeps up with demand."
But he warns that demand for these vehicles is now starting to grow faster than the electric charger infrastructure on offer, locally.
"What I'd say to the councils of Norfolk and Suffolk is, start planning now for the people who are going to be wholly dependent on public charging infrastructure".
"Many won't have a place to charge at home so they are going to need it in the future, when they switch to an electric vehicle".
Mr Nelmes concluded by saying that a lot of myths and misconceptions still surround the electric car industry.
"A lot of people still think that the infrastructure is where it was ten years ago and there aren't any charge points near them".
"A lot of people also think that these vehicles have a short range. There's actually more charging points than petrol stations around the country".
"There's a huge range of different vehicles around that suit people who live in the city, or rurally and those with other different needs".