Analysis of DVLA data by the RAC Foundation has revealed that sales of plug-in vehicles eligible for the Government’s plug-in car and van grants rose 37% in Q1 2015 compared to Q4 2014, reaching a total of 29,469 vehicles. With the total UK vehicle parc comprising 30.7m cars and 3.6m vans, this means that vehicles licensed and eligible for the plug-in car and van grants make up 0.09% of the total: 1 in every 1,164. 

The research showed that the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is now the most common ultra-green car on the road in the UK, knocking the Nissan Leaf off the top spot. 

There were 9,688 Outlanders licensed at the end of Q1 2015, compared with 5,273 at the end of Q4 2014 – an 84% increase. 

By comparison there were 8,274 pure battery-powered Nissan Leafs, a 21% increase on the 6,838 figure three months earlier. 

Third in the list of licensed vehicles that qualify for the government’s plug-in car and van grants is the BMW i3 with 2,186 units, up 43%.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “This weekend Formula E electric racing comes to London with the express aim of promoting sustainable clean vehicles. From the latest figures it looks like the organisers might be pushing at a door that is just starting to open. 

“Over the last 12 months the number of ultra-green cars and vans on our roads is up by 240% with the Mitsubishi Outlander making the running, which suggests that if the industry can offer the style of vehicles motorists want at a competitive price they will vote with their wallets. 

“For the time being that is still dependent on a government grant. The challenge for manufacturers will be to offer economically attractive options when the grants get reined in.”

Top 20 vehicles on the road currently available under the plug-in car grant scheme (as of the end of Q1 2015):