Car Crash: UK's Electric Vehicle Sales Plummet in 2008
Here at the end of the year, we tend to start looking at everything in terms of numbers -- which is, unfortunately, a very painful experience for most of us in 2008. Especially it you work in the auto industry. Just as you might expect, auto sales are slumping in the UK just as they are in the US, and for many of the same reasons. Unfortunately, the events of 2008 have been particularly hard on the UK electric car industry, leaving it on the brink of collapse.Even in London, where EV sales had been brisk and environmental reforms have been aggressive, the demand for EVs has apparently dried up -- EV sales were half of what they were in 2007. One of the two largest EV dealers in London -- Nice Car Company -- have filed for administration (British for bankruptcy) to try to right the ship. Hate to see it happen to such a... nice car company.
Other factors have subsequently stacked up against the EV industry in London as well. For example, Ken Livingstone proposed that high efficiency gas cars could be exempt from the congestion charge -- leading many to look ahead and choose something more conventional like the VW Polo BlueMotion or Smart ForTwo CDi. That policy has been scrapped by current mayor Boris Johnson, but the damage is done.
Also, since EVs aren't subject to the crash test standards of other cars and trucks, there seems to be a broad questioning of their safety. Right now they're classified as quadracycles. Hmm, not too reassuring is it?
[via AutoBlogGreen]
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