The number of electric vehicles in Herefordshire rose by over 50 per cent last year, new figures show.

The Government is aiming to entirely phase out petrol and diesel-powered cars by 2030, with battery electric vehicles planned to account for all car sales by 2035.

Department for Transport figures show there were 853 battery-electric vehicles in Herefordshire at the end of last year – up from 504 at the end of 2020, a 69 per cent rise.

It meant 349 electric vehicles were newly registered in 2021 – over 50 per cent more than the 203 the year before.

Across the UK, the number of electric vehicles on the roads almost doubled, increasing by 94 per cent from 215,000 at the end of 2020 to 420,000 last year.

Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said the automotive industry has responded well to the Government’s electric car drive.

Mr Plummer said: “Over the last year, we’ve seen significant strides in range capability, as well as a growing choice of makes, models and body types, right now there’s one new electric vehicle coming onto the market per week.”

The Government hopes to install 300,000 public charging points by 2030, 18 times the number a decade previously.