EVs and Category A COE: Eligibility, Demand and the Evidence
What EV eligibility means for a car shortlist, and what registration figures can and cannot tell us about Category A bidding demand.
EVs belong in the COE discussion, but a registration share is not a share of bids. To assess their effect on Category A, distinguish the approved vehicle specification, the registration data and the auction result.
Eligibility comes first
Fully electric cars qualify for Category A up to 110kW. Other cars must meet both the 1,600cc and 97kW limits. Different variants of the same model can therefore fall into different categories. Neither a rear-wheel-drive layout nor a model badge establishes eligibility.
Ask the dealer for the exact registered variant and approved power. A lower-powered version may differ in equipment, battery or other features; do not assume it is identical hardware with only a software restriction.
A registration is not a new additional buyer
An EV buyer may have planned to buy a petrol car, may be replacing an existing EV, or may be entering car ownership. Registration totals do not separate those cases. They also occur after COE bidding, sometimes in a different month.
Consequently, an increase in EV registrations cannot be added directly to the existing petrol bid count to construct future demand. Brand registrations also do not reveal a brand’s share of Category A reserve prices.
What official context supports
MOT’s May 2026 reply described strong demand, likely influenced by competitive EV pricing, while noting that Category A supply had started declining after its late-2025 peak. This provides a supported explanation to consider alongside the actual allocation.
It does not quantify a $10,000–$20,000 “EV premium” or prove that every additional EV buyer raises the clearing price. Such a claim would need a counterfactual model and more detailed bidding evidence.
What matters for a petrol buyer
Compare the eligible petrol and EV offers if both fit your needs. The energy saving should use your mileage, consumption and charging tariff; include road tax and insurance rather than assuming the EV has lower costs throughout. The EV comparison calculator makes those inputs visible.
Do not book a category reform in advance
A larger A power threshold could move qualifying variants into A, rather than pushing them into B. The eventual effect on premiums would also depend on quota allocation. A separate EV pool remains a scenario unless enacted; no reliable price saving can be assigned without its rules.
For the incentive deadline, use our 2026–2027 EV comparison. For current category prices, use the results archive. There is no permanent six-figure floor established by the EV data.
Sources and review date
Reviewed on 13 September 2026. Historical results retain their exercise dates; worked budgets are assumptions, not quotations.