Close to a third of all new car sales across Kent and Sussex last month were fully electric, the latest data has revealed.

It represents a remarkable acceleration in the take-up of battery-powered vehicles.

In December 2021 the figure stood at 30.03% - a year before it was just 11%.

Read our guide to everything you need to know about electric cars here.

The data has been revealed by New AutoMotive, an independent transport research group which supports the uptake of electric vehicles in the UK.

The increase represents an increase of 20% since July 2020.

Now the organisation is calling on the government to put its foot down on encouraging take-up of electric vehicles ahead of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 and hybrids by 2035.

New AutoMotive’s head of policy and research, Ben Nelmes, said: "Last year saw continued enormous growth in the number of EVs registered as UK motorists increasingly fell in love with electric cars. People across the country discovered the benefits of switching to electric cars, from the cheaper running costs to better environmental performance.

“We need to put rocket boosters under this transition. Ministers should set out ambitious targets for electric car sales for the UK’s planned zero emissions vehicle mandate. The government must use every tool in the box to get electric cars into the hands of high mileage drivers to maximise emissions reductions.

“Local authorities also have an important role. The extra 180,000 electric cars on the road in 2021 is small compared to the 32 million polluting cars on the road. To reduce emissions, local authorities should accelerate the implementation of clean air zones and promote modal shift and active travel alongside electric cars where appropriate.”

However, the rise in electric cars has - along with petrol and diesel models - been hampered by supply chain issues and shortages which have seen a dip in the number of cars available. It has, in turn, driven huge demand in the second-hand car market with prices increasing dramatically.

Concerns also remain over the number of publicly accessible charging points for those motorists unable to charge their vehicles at home.