Peterborough ‘leading the way’ with electric car take-up

Over 2018, the number of registered plug-in vehicles in the area increased by 20 per cent.

The latest Department for Transport statistics show the number of registered electric or plug-in hybrid cars, vans and micro-cars called quadricycles in Peterborough.

At the end of 2017 there were 8,822 electric vehicles.

By December last year that figure had grown to 10,584, a jump of 1,762.

The increase in Peterborough is the eighth highest in the United Kingdom. It also has the highest percentage of plug-in vehicles in the country.

But back in 2013 in Peterborough, there were just 54 electric cars, which shows the progress the industry has made in a short time.

Over the past few years manufacturers have increased the range of their vehicles and prices have fallen, helping fuel the rise in environmentally friendly vehicles.

The latest Nissan Leaf, the UK’s most popular entirely electric car, can now travel 235 miles before it needs to be recharged, 80 miles more than the previous version.

Over the next year BP will install charging points at its petrol stations, following Shell’s roll-out in 2017. Dyson has also said it plans to release an electric car by 2020.

One advantage electric car users have over other vehicles is that they do not have to pay road tax, as they do not release any emissions.

Electricity is also far cheaper than petrol and diesel, and green drivers have the satisfaction of helping save the planet.

However, in November, the Government reduced the maximum discount electric car buyers could get from £4,500 to £3,500.

Plug-in vehicles still make up a tiny percentage of the cars on the road in Peterborough: there are 10,584 electric cars, and 217,284 vehicles in total.