EV sales soar in SE London amid pollution fears

Official figures have shown the sales of electric vehicles (EV) in the South East (SE) of London have risen 85 per cent, as the scale of London’s pollution problem is laid bare.

A jump of 22 per cent can also bee seen in the number of EVs, including hybrids, registered in London as a whole in the first three months of 2016, compared to the same time last year.

David Stupples, professor of electronic and electrical engineering at City University, London, said: “Electric cars are proving increasingly popular in the South East among commuters who use them to drive to the station where (charging) infrastructure has been installed and is increasing all the time. They are also used by people driving to out-of-town shopping centres as again the infrastructure is there.”

According to experts, another reason for the drastic increase of EV sales in the South East is because families living outside central London are more likely to own two cars, and possess a driveway which means easier access to charging facilities.

Commenting on the rise, Poppy Welch head of Go Ultra Low, said: “The huge rise in the region for the year-to-date, emphasises the popularity of these stylish, economical and practical new cars.”

The news comes as thousands more charging bays are being installed under the Source London scheme.

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