New figures from the Department of Transport have revealed that UK electric vehicle rollout has more than doubled.

Stats have shown that currently, EV registration numbers in the north of England rose to 74,677 in 2021. More than a quarter of a million EVs now travel on UK roads and sales of plug-in vehicles have reached all-time highs, rising 77% compared to 2020, with 327,000 registrations in 2021.

The Department for Transport produced the stats ahead of the Transport Secretary meeting to discuss green transport innovation and the government’s mission to build strong infrastructure, transport links and economic growth in regions across the nation.

By 2030, the UK expects to reach 300,000 public EV charge points – equivalent to almost five times the number of available fuel pumps.

Commenting on the numbers, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “With a £2.5 billion cash injection, the UK continues to be a global front-runner in the switch to electric vehicles – helping drivers to save money on fuel while moving towards our net zero targets.

“I’m pleased to be meeting with colleagues today to ensure the north of England has the support it needs for an emission-free transport future, as we clean up our air and support green jobs across the nation.”

Shapps highlighted the progress of the UK EV rollout, with around 600 newly installed public charge points each month and one of the most extensive networks of rapid charging in Europe.

In Scotland, the rollout of EV and transport is also moving at pace. As far back as 2018, the Scottish Government launched the Plugged-in Households Grant Fund, giving Scots greater access to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) through a £700,000 investment fund led by Transport Scotland.

In August 2020 the country’s largest EV charging station opened in the heart of the Central Belt, as well as news of the rollout of a fleet of six buses to reduce the country’s overall carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality and Scotland’s first rural electric bin lorry being rolled out in Dumfries & Galloway in 2021.

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The UK’s move towards emission-free transport will support up to 40,000 new automotive jobs, as well as improving UK air quality air with average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for cars decreasing by 11% last year.

In the drive to net zero transport, the government said it was committed to phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, ensuring all drivers benefit from EVs and their significantly lower running and refuelling costs.

This ambition, combined with billions of pounds of support from the industry, will cement the UK’s leading position in the design, manufacture and use of zero emission vehicles, which are providing new economic opportunities by boosting employment, investment and exports.

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