In the first three months of this year there were 13,327 new electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered, a 16% increase on the same quarter last year.

It brought the total on UK roads to 147,431, of a total car parc of34 million.

Plug-in hybrids have fuelled the growth so far this year, with more than 10,000 hitting the roads.

But registrations of battery electric cars have experienced a year on year dip, said Go Ultra Low, which believes new pure electric models this year, such as the new Nissan Leaf and Jaguar i-Pace, should help turn that around.

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “This continuous growth in the plug-in market shows no signs of slowing down. Month after month, we are seeing registrations increase, demonstrating that the public appetite for plug-in motoring is growing.

"With the range of pure electric cars constantly increasing and plug-in hybrids continuing to offer the best of both worlds, it’s getting easier for motorists to see the benefits of electric motoring."