Despite the UK's £5,000 plug-in vehicle rebate ($7,904 U.S. at today's exchange rate), 2011 will not be the year "the electric car took off," according to The Guardian.
Recently released data shows that sales of plug-in vehicles in the UK have stalled, with only 106 electric vehicles sold there during the third quarter of 2011. That's a significant dip from the 465 plug-in registered in the UK in the first quarter of 2011 and down a bit from the 215 sold in Q2. At the formal launch of the UK's plug-in rebate, former transport secretary, Phillip Hammond, stated:
Recently released data shows that sales of plug-in vehicles in the UK have stalled, with only 106 electric vehicles sold there during the third quarter of 2011. That's a significant dip from the 465 plug-in registered in the UK in the first quarter of 2011 and down a bit from the 215 sold in Q2. At the formal launch of the UK's plug-in rebate, former transport secretary, Phillip Hammond, stated:
The number of electric vehicles registered in the UK now stands at 1,107, a tiny slice of the area's 28.5 million total vehicles. Some blame high sticker prices for slow sales of plug-ins, while others, including transport minister Norman Baker, say lack of choice is holding electric autos back:Government action to support affordable vehicles and more local charging points means we are on the threshold of an exciting green revolution – 2011 could be remembered as the year the electric car took off.
The UK's plug-in rebate scheme is due to be reviewed in January of 2012.It is nonsense to say the market has sputtered out. The availability of qualifying cars, rather than the public appetite for them is part of the problem. I have every confidence that that will change in the next few months and we will begin to see sales of ultra-low carbon cars improve.
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