The 100% electric Nissan LEAF has proved itself once again to be the most popular pure electric vehicle in the UK, with sales breaking national and European records in September.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the Nissan LEAF clocked up 851 sales during September, up 156% on the same month last year (332 sold), and topping March 2014 (the previous record month) when 630 were sold.
This strong performance was not only a record for the UK, but represents the largest volume of Nissan LEAFs ever sold in one month in a European market. The previous European record was achieved by Norway in March 2013 when 703 Nissan LEAFs were retailed in the month.
Sales of the British-built Nissan LEAF have already bettered the total number of units sold in 2013 (1,812 in total), with 2,969 cars sold so far this year, proving that the model’s practicality and low running costs, coupled with its unique driving experience, are keeping it ahead of the competition.
Dig deeper into the figures released by SMMT, and the data reveals that the Nissan LEAF sold more than double the volume of all other pure electric models combined in September, securing a 72% share of the pure electric vehicle market in the month. 1,187 pure electric vehicles were sold in the UK during September, of which 851 were Nissan LEAFs. In fact, the data also confirms that the Nissan LEAF is the best-selling pure electric car so far this year, achieving a 68% share of the market.
The number of Nissan-compatible rapid chargers available in the UK has now reached 366, with 170 of these installed at key motorway service stations along the Ecotricity Electric Highway. This means that almost 80% of motorway service stations across the country are covered, with over 95% planned by the end of the year. And with the service operating on a free-to-use basis for the foreseeable future, it’s easy to see why the Nissan LEAF continues to spearhead the pure electric market.
