Car makers treble battery range and deliver 15-fold increase in model choice in a decade

  • Average battery range of vehicles at annual SMMT Test Day grows from 74 miles to almost 260 miles during Britain’s first ‘electric decade’.
  • Industry confirms commitment to zero-emission motoring, from hatchbacks to supercars, as more than 40% of models on the market now come with a plug.
  • SMMT Test Day reflects EV model choice with two in five cars on the track running on a battery or plug-in hybrid powertrain, alongside electric vans, pick-ups, taxis and trucks.

Massive investment by car makers since 2011 means today’s electric vehicle buyers can benefit from a 15-fold increase in choice of model, as well as, on average, more than three times the battery range compared with a decade ago, according to new research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

At the time of the launch of Britain’s first mass-produced battery electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, in 2011, just nine plug-in car models were available in the UK – making up less than one in 1,000 total registrations.1 Today, there are more than 140 plug-in models available, accounting for around one in five new cars sold this year, with a further 50 models expected to be launched by the end of 2022.2

SMMT will show this wide range of choice at its annual Test Day driving event on Tuesday, with 33 manufacturers demonstrating more than 100 models at Millbrook Proving Ground, including 42 plug-in electric models on the circuit.3 Hundreds of media guests will test the high-level performance, safety and technology features of the latest cars, vans, pick-ups and taxis. They will also get first-hand experience of the dramatic improvements in electric vehicle battery technology, with the battery electric vehicles on display averaging 257 miles on a single charge3 – more than treble the average of 74 miles available at Test Day in 2011.4

This increased range is a direct result of the automotive industry’s ingenuity and investment – and the trend will continue, with all of Britain’s leading car manufacturers and importers committed to decarbonising their model line-ups, whether hatchbacks, SUVs or hypercars, with a further 150 new and updated plug-ins due to be delivered to the UK market by 2025.

Newly introduced for SMMT Test Day 2022 is the Working Vehicle Zone, where 15 trucks will be tested – almost half of them zero-emission – having undergone significant technological advancements during the last decade.5 These larger, heavier vehicles are vital to the UK economy and its green transition, with similar timescales to electric cars and vans, in spite of their highly complex mechanical and infrastructural challenges. However, truck manufacturers are already providing innovative solutions, with mammoth battery and plug-in hybrid powertrains, hydrogen fuel cell and quick-charging capability to meet their varied transportation uses.

While electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes have become more visible across the UK – alongside the gradually increasing presence of chargepoints at fuel stations and roadside in cities and on motorways – infrastructure has failed to keep up with demand, and could stifle greater uptake, with 75% of motorists saying there are not enough public chargepoints to meet their needs.6

Further investment in chargepoint infrastructure, therefore, is essential so that all consumers in all regions of the UK can be confident they will be able to charge their electric vehicle whenever and wherever they want. The government’s new EV infrastructure strategy launched last month was a positive step towards addressing consumers’ needs, but there must be binding targets for chargepoint delivery that match the latest ambitious mandates on electric vehicle production to deliver this fundamental infrastructure ahead of need.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,

The ever-increasing number of electric vehicle models launched by manufacturers since 2011 shows just how far Britain has come, with industry investment stimulating innovation at an ever-faster rate. With almost 200 electrified models expected to be available by the end of the year, manufacturers are turning ambitions for zero and ultra-low emission mobility into a reality, while motorists’ demand for these vehicles increases month by month.

To turn this nascent demand into a mass market, however, motorists need choice, affordability and the confidence to charge. The UK has an ambitious timescale to deliver net zero and road transport must shoulder the biggest burden delivering that goal. The industry is up for the challenge but we need all stakeholders, including government, charge point providers and energy companies, to match manufacturers’ commitment by providing the competitive incentives and infrastructure that assures a zero-emission future.

Notes to Editors

1. Plug-in cars available in the UK, 2011: Aixam Mega, Citroën C-Zero, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, Peugeot Ion, Reva G-Wiz, Smart Fortwo Coupe, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Prius
2. 2011: 1,082 plug-in electric vehicles, 0.1% market share; 2021: 190,727, 18.6%; Q1 2022: 93,926, 22.5%.
3. Plug-in cars by manufacturer, model, powertrain and range at SMMT Test Day 2022 – correct at time of going to press

Manufacturer Model BEV/

PHEV

Quoted Range (miles)
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron 40 140kW Launch Edition BEV 324
Audi e-tron GT quattro Vorsprung BEV 298
BMW i4 M50 BEV 316
BMW iX xDrive40 BEV 257
BMW iX3 M Sport BEV 286
Citroën ë-C4 134bhp electric motor, 50Kwh Lithium-Ion Battery, Shine Plus BEV 217
Citroën e-Berlingo Flair XTR M BEV 174
CUPRA CUPRA Formentor 1.4 e-Hybrid VZ1 245PS DSG PHEV 32
DS Automobiles DS4 PHEV 34
DS Automobiles DS9 PHEV 43
Fiat New 500 Icon BEV 199
Fiat 500 Action BEV 118
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range SUV AWD Auto 1SP BEV 335
Genesis GV60 BEV 280
Honda Honda e Advance. Modern Steel Metallic BEV 137
Hyundai IONIQ 5 Ultimate 73kWh All Wheel Drive BEV 281
Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4xe PHEV 26
Jeep Compass 4xe Trailhawk PHEV 30
Kia Kia EV6 77.4kWh ‘Air’ RWD BEV 328
Kia Kia Niro EV Pre-production BEV 282
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ AMG Line Premium Plus Battery electric vehicle, 333 hp/245 kW Electric – WLTP, AMG Line Premium Plus BEV 453
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4MATIC AMG Line Premium 66.5 kWh battery and a 100 kW DC on-board charger BEV 260
MG Motor MG ZS EV MG ZS Trophy standard range/51kWh 1-speed Automatic BEV 198
MG Motor MG 5 EV Long Range 61kWh 1-speed Automatic/Exclusive & Excite BEV 273
MINI MINI Electric Shadow Edition BEV 140
Nissan ‘Newbird’: Nissan Bluebird BEV 130
Peugeot e-Rifter Standard BEV 172
Peugeot 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered SW 159cc, Pure Tech 200 PHEV 26
Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, Dolomite PHEV 25
Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo PHEV 33
Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo BEV 265
Skoda ENYAQ iV 80 Sportline BEV 324
SsangYong Korando e-Motion Ventura BEV 211
Toyota Lexus NX450h+ PHEV F SPORT Takumi Pack Sunroof, F SPORT PHEV 40
Vauxhall Mokka-e, green BEV 201
Vauxhall Grandland GS Line PHEV 39
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Max 77 kWh 299 PS BEV 301
Volvo Volvo XC40 Recharge Pro BEV 260
Volvo Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Pro BEV 260
Volvo Volvo V90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 Inscription PHEV 52
Volvo Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T8 Inscription Pro PHEV 32
Volkswagen Multivan Style Standard 1.4-litre eHybrid 218 PS DSG PHEV 30

4. Plug-in cars by manufacturer, model, powertrain and range at SMMT Test Day 2011:

Manufacturer Model Powertrain Quoted Range (miles)
Chevrolet Volt REV 93
Citroën C-Zero BEV 83
Mitsubishi i-MIEV BEV 50
Nissan Leaf BEV 93
Vauxhall Ampera REV 84

REV = range extended vehicle
5. Trucks by manufacturer, model and powertrain at SMMT Test Day 2022

Manufacturer Model Powertrain
Renault Trucks

Electric Renault D 16t E-TECH Box body with tail lift BEV
Renault Trucks Electric Renault D 26t E-TECH Low entry cab with refuse body

BEV
Renault Trucks Electric Renault Master E-TECH OptiTipper Alloy tipping body with lockers

BEV
Volvo Trucks eFL 4×2 16t

BEV
Volvo Trucks FM 460 6×2 Natural gas
Volvo Trucks FH 460 6×2 Diesel
Mercedes-Benz Trucks Fuso eCanter

BEV
Mercedes-Benz Trucks  Unimog Diesel
Mercedes-Benz Trucks  Econic 2627L

Diesel
Mercedes-Benz Trucks Arocs 2653

Diesel
DAF  XF480 FTG Diesel
DAF LF Electric 19t BEV
IVECO S-WAY AS440S46TP (x2) Natural gas
IVECO Daily 70C18HA8 V Diesel

6. Department for Transport and Ipsos MORI (2021), Transport and Technology: Public Attitudes Tracker – Wave 7 summary report, available here.

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