Electric car sales soar 350 per cent over 2015

Over 14,000 plug-in cars have been sold in the first six months of 2015, leading to estimate that this year could be the most successful yet for electric vehicles in the UK.

According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), sales of plug-in electric cars are already nearing overtaking last years sales, with only 300 fewer cars sold from January to the end of June than the 14,500 registered over the entire of 2014.

More than 35,000 electric and hybrid cars have been registered in the UK, representing a three per cent share of all car sales in the last six months. The figures represent a higher interest in low-pollution cars, as the number of cars eligible for the government's Plug-In Car Grant swelled by nearly 250 per cent. Sales of pure battery electric cars grew 83 per cent from 2,558 in 2014 to 4,681, while plug-in hybrids rose over 520 per cent from 1,538 to 9,541.

Take-up of the Plug-In Car Grant has also shown a vast increase, prompting the government to commit an extra £200m to support it. However, a planned shake-up is set to see funds increasingly directed to the lowest emission vehicles.

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