EV sales should surpass 12,000 before Christmas

EVs have reached 10,885 in October, well on track to hit 12,000 by the end of the year.

And that could put EV numbers about 4000 ahead of the 8000 goal for 2018, with the total again expected to double to reach 16,000 by the end of 2019.

That’s if the Government’s target of 64,000 EVs by the end of 2021 is to be met.

The October total of 10,885 is 635 up on September in monthly registration figures from the Ministry of Transport released on November 5.

Used light pure electrics still lead the charge with 6200 recorded by the end of October, compared with 5740 in September – a 460 increase.

New light pure EVs reached 1907 – up 171 on September’s 1836.

The next most popular category is new light plug-in hybrids which totalled 1818 in October, an increase of 60 on September’s 1758.

Used light plug-in hybrids came in next at 849 – 41 more than the previous month’s 808.

Heavy EVs are still gradually increasing with 111 recorded in October, up three on September’s 108.