Electric and PHEV registration on the rise

Go Ultra Low figures show that 100 per cent electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles achieved “record-breaking levels of popularity” last year.

Unprecedented demand saw registrations increase by more than 27 per cent on the previous year with an ever-expanding range of plug-in vehicles available to motorists.

In 2018, annual electric car registrations could reach 60,000 for the first time, retaining the UK’s position as one of Europe’s largest markets for ultra low emission vehicles.

From January to December, motorists flocked to buy ultra low emission vehicles, with 46,522 registered in 2017.

The Go Ultra Low numbers show that records tumbled throughout the year with every quarter comfortably out-performing 2016. The second half of 2017 recorded in excess of 24,000 registrations of 100 per cent electric and plug-in hybrid cars – up more than 40 per cent on July-December 2016.

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “2017 was a stellar year for electric vehicle registrations with strong growth of 27 per cent, demonstrating the massive consumer appetite for 100 per cent electric and plug-in hybrid cars.

“There are already more than 130,000 electric vehicles on UK roads, a figure that could pass 190,000 this year as new models come to market and consumers reap the cost saving benefits of electric driving.”

Across the country, several regions stood out with London (9,274) and Eastern England (8,685) registering the most electric vehicles (EVs), a rise of 42 per cent and 21 per cent respectively on 2016. Meanwhile, the South West and Scotland grew the fastest, boosting plug-in uptake by 140 per cent and 70 per cent respectively against the previous year.