MORE drivers are going green as the number of electric vehicles registered in the areas surge.

Department for Transport figures show 505 ultra-low emissions vehicles were licensed in Braintree at the end of last years- 172 more than the year prior.

The figures include battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric (ULEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles.

Of the additions, the majority, 127 vehicles, were registered to private keepers, while 45 were to the addresses of local firms.

Overall ULEVs still only accounted for around 0.5 per cent of all vehicles licensed in Braintree at the end of 2020 – below the UK average of 1.1 per cent.

In Braintree, 249 of the ULEVs licensed at the end of the year were battery electric vehicles- defined as zero emissions.

A further 217 were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine.

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The Government has committed to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and ensuring all new sales are “zero emissions at the tailpipe” by 2035.

In March, the Government cut grants for electric car buyers from £3,000 to £2,500 and lowered the cap of eligible cars to £35,000, down from £50,000.

"With the climate emergency worsening, increases in electric vehicle sales are always welcome,” said Kerry McCarthy, Labour's shadow minister for green transport.

“However, rather than encouraging this trend, the Government seems to be doing all it can to stifle progress by slashing subsidies to electric vehicles and failing to set out a roadmap to smoothly transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

“We need to see a clear, long-term vision from the Government to support the British car industry, as well as action to support electric vehicle sales, making them affordable to families and rolling out adequate charging infrastructure."

Across the UK, around 431,600 ULEVs were licensed at the end of 2020 – an increase of 162,300 over the year.

The majority of the spike – around 101,800 – were company-registered.