SEVA: Proportion of Newly Registered Electric Cars Now Exceeds 5 percent

Bratislava, 1 February(TASR) - By the end of last year, there were 24,661 passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on Slovak roads, with the proportion of electric cars exceeding 5 percent when it came to new registrations in the M1 category, which is a milestone indicating faster uptake among the population, TASR reported earlier this week based on information from the Slovak Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA). "In December, an average of 66 electric cars with new licence plates hit Slovak roads on every working day," said SEVA director Patrik Krizansky. "At these levels, it's becoming clearly noticeable on the roads. When natural curiosity and the sharing of real user experiences add up to this, we can see electromobility becoming a trend. There's no reason why Slovakia should be an exception, apart from the fact that, traditionally, the process takes longer here," he added. According to SEVA analyst Martin Jelenek, the 5-percent threshold is important in that the decision-making dynamics is starting to change. People have begun to notice more electric vehicles in their neighbourhoods or hear real-life experiences from people they know, and there are more ample opportunities to test the new technology. In market terms, this boosts confidence and accelerates the spread of practical information about charging or the actual operating costs. The next milestone is a 10-percent share of BEVs among new registrations, when electric cars should start to be perceived as a standard choice. An increase in the number of registered electric vehicles is also closely linked to a broader range of more affordable models. According to Krizansky, cheaper cars will boost demand within significantly larger population groups, thus accelerating a much greater upswing in electromobility. Used BEVs will also play a major role as a more affordable option, leading to a broader uptake of electromobility among households. Krizansky added that insights from Slovakia's used-car market confirm the conclusions of advanced markets. Electric cars don't end up in scrapyards after just a few years of use, as batteries remain in good condition much longer than originally expected, meaning that electric vehicles continue to be reliable and safe. jrg/df