Ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) registrations across Wales shot up nearly 76% between July-August compared to the same time a year before.

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) figures show that at the end of August, 12,900 vehicles belonged to Welsh residents, up from 7,330 on July-August 2020.

The data shows the pace of moving to electric vehicles has also stepped-up, with Q3 2019 to Q3 2020 recording a 50% increase, up from a 33% rise on the year before.

Merthyr Tydfil – 113%, Neath Port Talbot – 108% – and Torfaen – 92% – had the strongest take-up of electric vehicles. No local authority had less than 50% growth in ULEV registrations, with Powys – 54% – and Glamorgan – 56% registering the lowest growth in electric car ownership.

Across Great Britain ULEV registrations hit 40%, with ULEVs making up 15.3% of all new registrations from July to August, some 83,000 vehicles.

More battery electric cars (BEV) – 51,000 – were registered for the first time than diesel cars -35,000 units. This followed a 44% increase in BEV car registrations in Q3 2021 than the same period a year before.

Petrol car registrations fell 41% and diesel by 66%. Average CO2 emissions for cars registered for the first time in the UK went down by 14%.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, a leading insurance comparison website, comments: “Welsh motorists are firmly at the forefront of the green industrial revolution when it comes to motoring.

“Government initiatives such as more public charging points and more home charging grants can only fuel Welsh electric vehicle registration growth over this year.”