EV sales have plummeted with just a quarter making up new purchases, data reveals.
It comes as a huge blow to the electric car market, and goals to move towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Figures reported by the MailOnline revealed 23 per cent of vehicles bought in 2023 were EVs, compared to 33 per cent in 2022.
Meanwhile, in private sales, only 8.8 per cent of vehicles sold were electric cars.
Plus, according to the latest industry data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, just one in four new battery cars have been purchased by private buyers.
And while the number of car registrations across all fuel types grew 14.3 per cent last month, it seems interest in EVs is dwindling.
Recent figures suggest drivers have lost faith in the EV market, especially after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delayed the petrol ban until 2035.
Data collected previously by eBay Motors Group suggested motorists had four main concerns ranging from cost to mile range anxiety.
In a poll of 2,000 in-market buyers, nearly half at 43 per cent, said the cost of EVs were too high.
However, there is plenty of evidence to suggest running an electric vehicle is actually a lot cheaper than a conventional car.
Most read in Motors
Statistics also uncovered a large percentage of motorists were worried about the quality of the EV batteries.
Performance doubts included fears over limited mile range, fast draining battery life and charging issues.
But, newer electric car models usually boast range of over 200 miles, which means it's unlikely you'll end up stranded with no charge.
And, EVs on the market with the longest ranges could even see drivers travel a whopping 464miles on a single charge.
However, plummeting sale figures means manufacturers now face a real risk of missing targets requiring them to sell a minimum number of their zero-emission cars.
The new regulations, rolled out on Wednesday, will force industry giants to make up at least 22 percent in sales with the eco-friendly vehicles.
This is set to rise to a whopping 80 per cent by 2030 and those who don't keep up will face penalties of up to £15,000 per non-compliant car.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) urged the Government to cut the cost of VAT on EVs to encourage more buyers, with customers forking out as much as £10k extra for electric models.
SMMT boss Mike Hawes said: "For the private consumer, yes you will be exempt from vehicle excise duty [road tax] for the next financial year, but that is it.
"So what we think we need is something that stimulates the private market, which is why we're saying to look at halving VAT to 10 per cent."
EVs are currently exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), better known as road tax, but this will change on April 1, 2025.
After this date, drivers will have to pay an additional £180.
And, insurance companies have raised prices on EVs up to 60 per cent last year.
Motorists have seen extreme price hikes at renewal time, with one man even seeing his plan increase by £1,000 year-on-year.
Some insurers won't even cover electric cars, with one major supermarket brand pulling their policies in October.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Meanwhile, charging stations were reportedly a fifth more expensive than petrol and diesel re-fills.
It comes as EV drivers were told they could face £500 in extra costs from next year to keep their cars on the road.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jqamraeiqHxzgZFvcG5qYmSyrbHCramim12YrrN50pqjnqtdmbKkvsSaqp5n