Go Ultra Low has celebrated a record year of EV and hybrid car sales after registrations rose 27% during 2017 – the sixth consecutive sales rise for the sector.

The body charged with promoting the widespread adoption of AFVs praised the performance as “stellar” as low emission vehicles benefitted from a shift away from diesel vehicles, in particular.

Go Ultra Low noted that the number of EVs on UK roads passed 130,000 during the year, with numbers set to grow further in 2018 fuelled by an expanding model choice.

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

In 2018 alone EV registrations could reach 60,000 as the appeal of AFVs continues to grow, it said.

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “2017 was a stellar year for electric vehicle registrations with strong growth of 27%, demonstrating the massive consumer appetite for 100% 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% and 21% respectively on 2016.

The South West and Scotland showed the fastest growth, however, boosting plug-in uptake by 140% and 70% respectively against the previous year.

The demand for 100% 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, Go Ultra Low reported that 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.