THE LEAF is the best-selling electric car on the market at the moment.

In the UK, 338 units have been sold to customers wanting to embrace electric motoring.

In fact the LEAF is the best-selling EV by some margin.

In total, 602 electric cars have been sold – ranging from the Mitsubishi iMiev selling 105 units to the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid with three units sold.

Autocar’s editor, Jim Holder, believes that 600 electric cars sold in the UK is not a sign that the electric revolution has been a flop. On the contrary, he believes it’s pretty good going.

‘After all,’ says Holder, ‘the electric car sales push only began a few months into this year, with the Nissan LEAF going on sale and the government’s grant of up to £5k kicking in. What’s more, charging points remain a rarity, with latest estimates suggesting that we’ll only get a semi-decent infrastructure of 13,000 points in place by the end of 2013.’

On the subject of 338 LEAFs sold so far this year, Holder believes that ‘the LEAF is capable of exploiting a niche market – and that when conditions change for the better, that niche will only grow.

‘None of this guarantees the success of the electric car, but I do wish those jumping at every opportunity to prophesise the end of an initiative that has barely begun would lay off and give new technology a chance to shine,’ Holder concluded.

Registrations of electric cars so far in 2011…

Citroen C-Zero 19

Mitsubishi iMiev 105

Nissan LEAF 338

Peugeot iOn 77

Smart ED 60

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 3