The United Kingdom was the largest-volume market in Europe for electrified vehicles during 2017, accounting for one in every six registered across the region, figures from ACEA reveal.

The UK accounted for one in six hybrids registered in Europe last year.

Including hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), range-extended electric (E-REV), battery electric (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) models, a total of 747,688 electrified cars were registered in the European Union and EFTA countries during 2017 – 46.4% year-on-year increase. Roughly one in every 20 new passenger cars (4.8%) registered in the region last year was electrified.

Of those, 119,827 (16.0%) were registered in the UK, closely followed by Germany (109,853 units) and France (106,515 units). However, with 82,813 electrified vehicles registered last year, Norway became the first country where over half (52.2%) of all new passenger cars could be driven using an electric motor. Sweden, at 45.2%, looks likely to follow suit during 2018.

The UK market is heavily weighted towards HEVs; 72,523 (+40.0% year on year) were registered there during 2017, just ahead of France (69,680) and Italy (63,398). It is also the biggest market for plug-in hybrids, with 31,154 registered last year (+25.1%), ahead of Germany (29,439) and Norway (25,165).

However, the Norwegian market continues to lead on BEV registrations. More than one in five passenger cars registered in Norway last year (20.8%, 33,025 units) were BEVs, making it both the largest market by volume and by share. The second-largest market share was the Netherlands, where BEVs accounted for 2.4% of all passenger car registrations.

Germany (25,056 units), France (24,910 units) and the United Kingdom (13,597 units) were the second, third and fourth-largest markets for BEVs last year.