The Society of Motor Manufacturers and traders (SMMT) data has again charted a significant growth in EV sales last month due to manufacturer investments, model choice and the new Electric Car Grant, seeing 72,779 new battery electric vehicles delivered.

This is the highest ever monthly volume and, when combined with hybrids, means electrified vehicles comprise the majority of registrations (50.8 per cent), with pure EV share rising to 22.1 per cent, whilst plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were the fastest growing powertrain, rising 56.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, Chinese maker BYD has stated that the UK is now its biggest market outside China, with sales growing 880 per cent in September compared to a year earlier.

BYD has started to feel the pressure on its profits dure to increased competition, but its hybrid cars have been a sales success in the UK, one of the countries that has so far failed to apply tariffs to Chinese cars (unlike the EU and US).

Top sellers in Septer were the Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and the Nissan Qashqai.

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