Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) hit a new record in the first three months of the year as buyers were boosted by a wider choice of products and the appeal of lower ongoing costs.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed the used car market was slightly down year on year between January and March, but sales of full Battery EVs soared by a third (32 per cent), with 86,943 electric vehicles in total being bought.

Despite the increase, that still only accounts for one in 23 buyers (4.3 per cent), but is is up from one in 30 buyers last year.…