The data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) shows that for the first three months of the year, AFV totalled 144,421 units – up 28.8%.

Registrations of electric vehicles (EVs) more than doubled, rising from 11,304 units in Q1 2014 to 24,630 units in Q1 2015 (+117.9%).

Demand for new hybrid cars also increased (+21.4%), totalling 56,704 units in the first three months of the year. Natural gas powered 63,087 new cars during this period, or 16.5% more than in the first quarter of 2014.

Looking at the EU’s major markets, the UK saw the largest increase of AFVs registered over the period (+64.2%), followed by France (+33.9%), Italy (+18.1%) and Germany (+11.3%).

However, the biggest rises were seen in the Czech Republic (+151.6), Hungary (115.6%), Poland (103.1%) Denmark (88.9%), Spain (96.0%) and Austria (59.9%).

Among the EFTA countries, the Norwegian market grew by 32.7%, reaching 10,901 units.