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Apr 2021
Harrogate businesses go electric as number of cars licensed doubles
Latest figures from the Department for Transport show that the number of electric vehicles licensed in Harrogate has nearly doubled since 2019.
According to the data, the number registered in the district increased from 446 at the start of 2019 to 863 by the third quarter of 2020.
By comparison, the UK saw the number of vehicles licensed increase from 199,886 to 355,872.
It comes as the government is set to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
Read more:
Harrogate council staff could be offered electric cars
Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points in Harrogate district revealed
Companies such as the Harrogate Bus Company and Verity Frearson have already invested in electric vehicles over the past year.
Last year, the bus company trialled an electric bus in Knaresborough in an effort to reduce carbon emissions in the town.
Meanwhile, Verity Frearson unveiled five new electric vehicles for its fleet along with a charging point at its Albert Street office.
Matthew Stamford, director of the estate agents, said:
However, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said private buyers would need stronger incentives to buy electric.
The society said last year saw the market share for battery and plug-in hybrid cars increase to 10.7%.
It said while the number of registrations for plug-ins had increased by 91%, the majority of them were for businesses.
A spokesperson for The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said:
Earlier this month, Harrogate Borough Council revealed 34 locations where it will install electric vehicle charging points.
The locations include up to four charge points at the council’s Claro Road office, as well as up to five at its civic centre headquarters at Knapping Mount.
There will also be up to four at Harrogate’s multi-storey Victoria Shopping Centre car park and the same amount at Ripon Cathedral car park, plus a hub of charge points at Knaresborough Chapel Street car park.
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