Cut in EV forecast for UK

The Nissan Leaf, the most successful electric car in the world.

A sharp downwards forecast on demand for electric cars has been made by the Committee on Climate Change in the UK, writes Brian Byrne.

The independent Committee, set up to advice governments in the UK on climate change, now says only 9 percent of cars will be electric by 2020, and 12 percent of vans — a cut from 16 percent combined vehicles forecast made in 2010.

The Committee says capital vehicle costs remain a key barrier in low acceptance of EVs, and that subsidies might have to be maintained until 2030. EVs and plug-in hybrids currently account for 0.1 percent of sales in the UK.

A 'possibility' that 60 percent of vehicles will be electric by 2030 will depend on the industry continuing to introduce new EV models, and continuation of financial and non-financial incentives, it concludes.