The number of new ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) registrations in the UK has nearly doubled since 2015, with ULEVs continuing to hold a growing market share of all new registrations.

The number of new ULEV registrations has nearly doubled since 2015, according to Department for Transport data.

According to latest Department for Transport figures, in the year to March 2017, 43,819 new ULEVs were registered for the first time in the UK, an increase of 34% on one year before and up 91% on two years previously.

During this period, ULEVs accounted for 1.3% of all new registrations compared with 1.0% in the previous year and 0.8% in the year before that.

The figures also show that the number of ULEVs registered in the UK has passed 100,000 for the first time, reaching a total of 108,641 ULEVs in the first quarter of 2017, of which plug-in cars make up 92,414 units and plug-in vans stand at 3,358.

The DfT’s New Vehicle Licensing Statistics for Q1 2017 also reveal that over 13,800 new ULEVs were registered in the UK during the January to March period; an increase of 17% on the same period in 2016.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “I am determined to improve Britain’s air quality which is why we have pledged £600m to support the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles.

“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run, we are offering car drivers grants worth up to £4,500 off the price of new low-emission cars and more charge points are being rolled out across the country.”

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