The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads has surpassed two million for the first time, figures show.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the “key moment” in the country’s transition to electric motoring.
Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show 2,012,000 zero-emission vehicles were licensed for use in the UK as of the end of December last year.
That is up 31.2% compared with a year earlier.
The DfT said more than 100,000 drivers have benefited from the Government’s Electric Car Grant, which provides a saving of £1,500 or £3,750 off the purchase price of a new EV.
Ms Alexander said: “Over two million EVs are now registered across the UK – a key moment in the UK’s transition to electric, backed by £7.5 billion in Government funding.
“As global fuel prices continue to fluctuate, making the switch has never made more sense.”
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car buying advice website Electrifying.com, said: “Reaching two million EVs in the UK is a significant milestone.”
She said the uptake is down to factors such as Government support, huge investment from the charging industry and car makers, and a “wave of genuinely compelling electric cars”.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said the rise in the number of EVs on the road is “impressive” but noted that people using public chargers “are still paying a significant premium”.
He added: “A sensible next step to further increase uptake would be to reduce VAT at public chargers, to match the rate levied on domestic electricity.”
