THE number of Renfrewshire motorists driving electric cars has more than trebled in the last two years.

Latest figures from the UK Government show there were 9,318 owners in the area last year, compared to 5,021 in 2020 and 3,159 in 2019.

Electric car registrations across Scotland shot up by 75% between July and September 2021, compared to the same three-month period the previous year.

However, an ownership increase of 84% in Renfrewshire was well above the national average – and one of the highest in the country.

The Department for Transport figures show there are now 38,630 electric cars on Scotland’s roads – up from 22,100 in 2020.

The biggest increase in ownership was in North Lanarkshire, where it jumped by 104%, followed by the Shetland Islands and Stirling.

By contrast, the lowest ownership rise was in the Orkney Islands.

Most council areas in Scotland have seen a growth of more than 50% in electric car ownership in their communities.

Greg Wilson, of insurance price comparison website Quotezone, said: “Motorists in Renfrewshire are firmly at the forefront of the green industrial revolution when it comes to motoring.

“It’s a remarkable increase in the last two years.

“Government initiatives such as more public charging points and more home charging grants can only fuel Scottish electric vehicle registration growth over this year.”

Renfrewshire Council installed three new electric car charging points last year – two in Paisley and one in Renfrew – to meet the growing demand.
A total of 51,000 electric cars were registered in the UK last year – outstripping the number of diesel cars for the first time.

Petrol car registrations fell by 41% and diesel by 66%.

Electric cars now account for 16% of all new cars bought across the country.