The EV leasing company says this is a significant increase from the 267,203 BEVs registered in the UK in 2022, and represents a 24.9% market share.
It has based this forecast on a number of factors, such as the growing availability of EVs, an increase in production, the continued accelerated expansion of the public charging network, and a move among UK businesses to reduce their corporate carbon footprint
Mike Potter, managing director at DriveElectric, said: "EV registrations will continue to increase in 2023, as the industry recovers from challenges such as the semiconductor shortage, and as yet more new EV models come to market. Businesses will continue their enthusiastic transition to EVs, however the risk is that retail demand will be impacted by cost of living concerns."
Looking further ahead, a Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate is due to be introduced by the UK government from 2024; even at this late stage, the full details are still not known, but the overall aim is to mandate manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric vehicles each year in the lead up to the UK's 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car and van sales in 2030.