Figures released by Go Ultra Low show that 100 per cent electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles achieved record-breaking levels of popularity in 2017.

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. Go Ultra Low says that 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.

The total number of plug-in cars on UK roads passed 130,000, and from January to December 2017, 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.”

The demand for 100 er cent electric cars, such as the UK’s best seller – the Nissan LEAF, continued to grow with the sector’s registrations increasing by around a third, to top 13,000. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid cars like the popular BMW 330e, VW Golf GTE, and Hyundai IONIQ, delivered the highest volume of registrations with more than 33,000 arriving on UK roads, an increase of a quarter versus 2016.

Greater choice of models and growing consumer appetite for ultra low emission cars means that 2018 looks set to be another record breaking year. If similar growth continues, 60,000 vehicles could be registered during 2018 taking the total number of plug-in cars on our roads to more than 190,000.