Sales of used battery electric vehicles (BEVs) more than doubled in the first quarter of 2022, helping to push the overall used car market up 5.1%.

A total of 14,586 used BEVs were sold in Q1; up from 6,625 and marking a rise of 120.2%

A total of 14,586 BEVs were sold; up from 6,625 and marking a rise of 120.2%, according to the new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Transactions for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) also soared by 35.3% to 14,433, and 28.8% to 35,007 units respectively.

However, petrol and diesel powertrains continued to dominate the used market, representing 96.2% of used sales, or some 1,707,135 units. Plug-in vehicles comprised 3.6% of the total market share – up from 1.6% in Q1 2021, but illustrating that the growth in new EVs over the past two years has yet to have a significant impact on the overall market.

Across the whole of the used car market, a total of 1,774,351 transactions took place in Q1; up by 86,596 cars compared with the same period in 2021.

Sales were particularly buoyant in January and February, with rises of 17.7% and 7.4% respectively as the new car market continued to battle supply challenges from the global shortage of semiconductors.

But March fell 6.8% when compared with the stronger performing month in 2021 as the pandemic-affected market began to recover. And despite the growth over 2021, Q1 used car transactions remain 12.2% below 2019 on a pre-pandemic comparison.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said that while the overall growth in the used car market was welcome, it was unsurprising the lockdown last year and with the new car market still hampered by ongoing global supply shortages.

He added: “Electric car sales are energising the market, with zero-emission vehicles starting to filter through in larger numbers to consumers looking forward to driving the latest and greenest vehicles. Although there is some way to go before we see the recent growth in new EVs replicated in the used market, a buoyant new car market will be vital to help drive fleet renewal which is essential to the delivery of carbon savings.”

Jamie Hamilton, automotive director and head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, said that the doubling of used electric vehicle sales in Q1 signals the emergence of a robust second-hand market, and paves the way for greater take-up.

“An established used vehicle market makes EVs more accessible to those consumers who may not be able to afford a brand-new vehicle. These consumers will also benefit from the total cost of ownership savings over a vehicle’s lifetime that would have otherwise been unavailable to them. Ultimately, it also encourages a greater proportion of zero-emissions vehicles on the road.”

He continued: “For existing EV owners, today’s figures should instil confidence in their vehicle’s residual value which, eventually, also filters through into more attractive financing deals for new car sales and fleet renewal.

“With record-high fuel prices at the pumps, interest in electric vehicles can be directly attributed to a shift in consumer behaviour. As the cost of fuel has skyrocketed, many dealers have seen a direct correlation with EV enquiries.”