MORE Worcester drivers are going green, according to figures showing a surge in electric vehicle registrations.

Department for Transport data shows 894 ultra-low emission vehicles were licensed to addresses in Worcester as of September, a 50 per cent increase from 596 a year earlier.

This contributed to a 40 per cent national rise which the RAC claims proves an "electric revolution" is underway across the UK

Simon Williams from the RAC said a wider choice of vehicles, longer travel ranges and fewer fears about recharging meant more drivers were willing to take the "zero-emission plunge".

He added: "If petrol and diesel prices continue to stay at near record levels those who can afford to will be increasingly tempted to go electric."

Of the 894 ULEVs registered in Worcester, 554 (62 per cent) were registered to companies while 340 were privately owned.

605 of the vehicles were battery powered (defined as zero emission) with a further 267 plug-in hybrid electric models.

Across the country, the 83,000 ULEVs made up 15 per cent of all new registrations between July and September last year.

As of September, around 645,000 ULEVs were registered across the UK, up from 373,000 the year before.

However, Caroline Russell, Green Party spokeswoman for transport and healthy streets, said the Government and councils must do more to provide a better network of charging points to ensure switching to electric vehicles is viable and efficient.

She added that it would be a mistake to rely on electric vehicles to resolve the climate and air pollution crisis, saying: "It doesn't matter how cars are powered, they still contribute to traffic deaths, congestion and dangerous air pollution from tyre wear."

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.

A Government spokesman said the statistics show drivers are increasingly confident in switching to electric vehicles, adding: "We look forward to seeing this trend continue as we work towards the UK's ambitious net-zero targets."

They added that £2.5 billion had been committed to accelerate the rollout of zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure.

In 2021, the total number of public charge points increased by a third.