Electric car sales soar 51% in mainland Europe as Iran war drives up fuel prices

Norway leads the way in terms of switching as data shows 224,000 new EVs were registered in March

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Sales of electric cars soared 51% in continental Europe last month, amid a rise in petrol and diesel costs driven by the Iran war.

Data shows that 224,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) were registered in March, and 500,000 across the first three months of the year – a 33.5% increase on a year earlier, according to analysis of national sales data in 15 countries by New AutoMotive and E-Mobility Europe, a trade body.