Latest SMMT data shows that 1,547 pure electric vehicles have been registered for the year to date – up 246.9% on the figure of 446 for the same period last year. Meanwhile petrol-electric hybrids rose 44.2% to 12,451 units whilst diesel-electric hybrids were up 27.7% to 1,069 units. Other types of electric vehicles such as plug-in hybrids and range extenders rose 82.0% to 666 units. In comparison the overall new car market rose 12.5% for the first four months of 2014.

Registrations of EVs also saw a sharp rise for the month of April. Pure electric vehicles were up 189.1% to 318 units whilst petrol-electric hybrids rose 39.7% to 2,197 units. There was a particularly strong demand for diesel-electric models, with registrations up 211.7% to 293 units. And sales of other electric vehicles rose 80.8% to 141 units.

The SMMT data also showed a sharp rise in the number of cars registered that are eligible for the Plug-in Car Grant – up 172% to 2,209 for the year to date and 188% for April to 288 units. Last month saw the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) announce a record quarter for the Plug-in Car Grant, with over 2,000 claims made since the start of 2014.