Figures show an 80 per cent Wigan borough increase in electric vehicles in just a year

Motorists turning their backs on petrol and diesel contributed to a 40 per cent national rise in the number of newly registered ultra-low emission vehicles last year.

The RAC said the rise proves an “electric revolution” is under way across the UK – but the Green Party says more needs to be done to ensure a switch to electric motoring is sustainable long-term.

Department for Transport data shows 1,008 ULEVs were licensed to addresses in Wigan as of September – an 80 per cent increase from 560 a year earlier.

Of those, 251 (25 per cent) were registered to companies based in the area, while 757 were privately owned.

The figures show 83,000 ULEVs made up 15 per cent of all new registrations nationally between July and September last year, when registrations of petrol and diesel cars fell 41 and 66 per cent respectively.

Around 645,000 ULEVs were registered across the UK as of September – up from 373,000 the year before.

“The sharp year-on-year rise in ULEVs, which incorporated a record 48,000 registrations made in September alone, came despite an overall drop in new car registrations nationally.

Simon Williams from the RAC said the figures were proof of an “electric revolution” accelerating electric vehicles becoming more mainstream.

He said a wider choice of vehicles, longer travel ranges and fewer fears about having to recharge mid-journey meant more drivers were becoming more willing to take the “zero-emission plunge”.

Mr Williams added: “If petrol and diesel prices continue to stay at near record levels those who can afford to will be increasingly tempted to go electric.”

The Government has committed to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and ensuring all new sales are “zero emissions at the tailpipe” by 2035.

But Caroline Russell, the Green Party’s spokeswoman for transport and healthy streets, said the Government and councils must do more to provide a better network of charging points to ensure switching to electric vehicles is viable and efficient.

She added that it would be a mistake to rely on electric vehicles to resolve the climate and air pollution crisis, saying: “It doesn’t matter how cars are powered, they still contribute to traffic deaths, congestion and dangerous air pollution from tyre wear.”

Of the ULEVs registered in Wigan as of September, 532 were battery powered – defined as zero emission.

A further 448 were plug-in hybrid electric models, which combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine.

A Government spokesman said the statistics show drivers are increasingly confident in switching to electric vehicles, adding: “We look forward to seeing this trend continue as we work towards the UK’s ambitious net-zero targets.”

He said £2.5bn had been committed to accelerate the rollout of zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure across the UK.

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