Electric car registrations hit record high in UK

The UK electric car market reached a record high in the first three months of 2016, with the strongest figures recorded since the government’s plug-in car grant was introduced in 2011.

A total of 10,496 electric cars were sold in the first quarter of this year, according to analysis from Go Ultra Low and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Government to review plug-in grant next year

A new structure to the plug-in grant came into effect on 1 March, with the maximum amount for the grant reducing from £5000 to £4500.

Despite this reduction in discount, March 2016 was the strongest-ever month for electric car sales in the UK. with 7144 vehicles sold. The previous high was 6104 in March 2015.

Go Ultra Low said the figures aren't so surprising, as March and September are traditionally strong months because buyers want to take advantage of the new registration plates introduced then.

Electric car vehicle purchases using the plug-in car grant have now surpassed 58,000 units, which is nearly triple the amount of cars that were registered at the start of last year.

Last year was a particularly strong year for electric cars, with a huge 386% year-on-year rise in registrations, and the figures from the first three months of 2016 are a 23% improvement on that.

Transport minister Andrew Jones said: “These record figures show that hundreds of people every week are coming round to the fact that plug-in cars are cleaner, greener and cheaper to run.

“The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low-emission vehicles and our long-term economic plan is investing £600 million by 2020 to improve air quality, create jobs and achieve our goal of every new car and van in the UK being ultra-low-emission by 2040.”