Electric vehicle charging points in Watford

Department for Transport statistics show 4,716 ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) were licensed in Watford at the end of last year – 3,001 more than at the end of 2019, when there were 1,715.

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

But of the additions, 2,928 were registered to the addresses of local firms.

The DfT said a vehicle’s address does not necessarily reflect where it is located, especially for large fleets kept by companies for leasing or rentals.

It added that significant changes in the number of vehicles from year to year can happen when companies change their registered address.

Watford's electric vehicle charging points. Photo:

Overall, ULEVs still only accounted for around 7 per cent of all vehicles licensed in Watford at the end of 2020 – although that was well above the UK average of 1.1 per cent.

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 the DfT figures, a ULEV is defined as a vehicle with reported tailpipe CO2 emissions of fewer than 75 grams per kilometre, which means not all of them would meet this new requirement.

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.

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.

In Watford, 3,342 of the ULEVs licensed at the end of the year were battery electric vehicles – defined as zero emission.

A further 1,312 were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine.

Across the UK, 64 per cent of ULEVS registered for the first time last year were battery electric vehicles, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 35 per cent.