UK electric car sales risk falling further behind after Sunak U-turn, analysts say

The analysis found the UK has 11.3 electric vehicles for every publicly accessible charge point. The Netherlands has 2.8 electric vehicles for each charge point. Photograph: John Walton/PA

The UK has fallen well behind the rest of Europe in the growth of electric vehicle sales and risks falling further back after Rishi Sunak’s “screeching U-turn” on its climate policies, according to industry analysts.

UK sales of electric vehicles grew by 31% in the 12 months to July, one of the slowest rates of growth in Europe, according to data analysed by Cornwall Insight and the law firm Shoosmiths.