As 2022 gets underway, it’s safe to say 2021 will not feature on many people’s highlight reel.
And nor will 2020, for that matter.
But the world is moving on, and so should we. As we scramble through the dark days of January, wondering what happened to our supposedly ‘dry’ month and what exactly constitutes a ‘work event’, there is some good news. And it’s to be found in the ever-evolving world of electric cars.
Popular power
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed 1.65 million new cars were registered in 2021, and a record 11.6% of those were electric vehicles. More than 190,000 new electric cars were registered last year – an increase of more than 76% on 2020 – while an electric vehicle became the second most popular passenger car in the UK.
Yes, the Tesla Model 3 staged a late charge to take second place in the sales charts, with almost 35,000 registered. Astonishingly, almost a third of those registrations took place in December.
The result leaves the Tesla behind only one other vehicle – the Vauxhall Corsa, which is also available in electric form. With the Mini Hatch taking third place in the chart, every single car in the top three positions was available in pure-electric form.
It’s a sign that times are changing, and lease customers are becoming more and more interested in electric cars.
Safety stars
And those lease customers will be pleased to know the latest electric vehicles are scoring well when it comes to safety. According to InsiveEVs, the new Mercedes-Benz EQB electric car scored five stars (out of five) in the Euro NCAP crash test. Sharing much with the GLB seven-seat SUV, the electric EQB has matched its petrol- and diesel-powered siblings’ scores.
Particularly impressive were the scores for occupant protection, with the EQB scoring 95% for adult occupant safety. The 91% score for child occupant protection will also be of interest to customers with young families.
At the same time, the new Tesla Model Y hatchback has been awarded the Top Safety Pick+ award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). According to Teslarati.com, the IIHS gave the Model Y top marks in each of the organisation’s crashworthiness tests, including ‘overlap’ impacts, side impacts and even roof strength testing.
However, Teslarati says the award only applies to Model Ys built after April 2021 because the IIHS “did not test the car’s Front Crash Prevention Rating”.
Tyre trouble
But while these results suggest electric cars are as safe as possible, new research has found electric vehicles are three times more likely to have tyre problems than petrol- or diesel-powered equivalents.
NextGreenCar reported the results of a study by breakdown provider LV= Britannia Rescue, which found electric cars were more likely to breakdown through tyre issues than other vehicles.
The report suggested issues with tyres were often associated with the heavy battery packs, which can cause electric cars to weigh up to 50% more than the equivalent petrol or diesel model.
Green deliveries
Undeterred by such concerns, Tesco has launched electric articulated freight trucks. According to Electrive.com, the move has been made in partnership with the FSEW freight company, putting some 37-tonne DAF electric vehicles into operation.
The new trucks will be used to transport Tesco products including food from the Wentloog rail terminal just outside Cardiff, to the company’s distribution centre in Magor, South Wales.
Second life
But what will happen to those vehicles’ batteries – and those of other electric vehicles – when they reach the end of their lives.
According to Electrive, French waste management company Veolia has announced its first electric car recycling plant in the UK. Set for construction in the West Midlands, Electrive says the centre will have the capacity to process “20% of the UK’s end-of-life electric vehicle batteries by 2024.
Enjoyed this? Read more of our latest news:
-
More affordable Citroen e-C4 joins 2022 line-up
-
New ‘coupe’ version of the Skoda Enyaq iV teased
-
Range boost for Peugeot’s e-208 hatchback and e-2008 SUV
-
More bang for your buck with Skoda Kodiaq and Kamiq SUVs
-
Electric vehicle news December 2021
Where To Next?
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
