The number of plug-in electric cars on British roads grew by three quarters last year, according to new Motorparc data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

This shows that there are now 195,410 plug-in vehicles on our roads, and that overall ownership of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) increased by almost 30% last year, with more than 620,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric cars now in use.

As drivers take advantage of the latest low-emission vehicle technology — whether petrol, diesel or AFV — average CO2 emissions in the UK have fallen to the lowest level on record, down 17.8% compared with 2008.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive (www.smmt.co.uk), said: “Thanks to massive investment from manufacturers in delivering a wide range of models across all fuel types and to suit all driving needs, environmental gains are now being delivered across the UK.

"With ever-more advanced technology, every new generation of vehicle is more efficient than the last, and the benefits of this are filtering rapidly from the new-car market into the broader market.

"Fleet renewal is proven to work, so we need a world-class package of incentives and infrastructure to give motorists the confidence to buy the latest cars, whatever the fuel type — and in greater numbers — if we are to meet current environmental challenges.”