THE number of electric and hybrid vehicles registered in York has been revealed.

And figures show there are currently 40 charging points across the city - with the council’s plans for two new fast charger hyper hubs set to boost the numbers even further.

Research shows there were 342 electric or hybrid cars registered in the city at the end of 2018 and York has the 36th highest number of charging points in the country.

But the council has not taken advantage of the government’s £2.5 million funding pot for on-street residential parking schemes, which would help people without driveways charge their cars at home.

Andrew Bradley, sustainable transport boss at the council, said: “We are committed to providing a high quality network of electric vehicle charging in and around York.

“We are engaged in overcoming the challenge faced by people who would like electric vehicles but who have no off street parking and are watching the trials in other cities with interest to ensure that the correct solution for York is chosen.”

The Department for Transport says 80 per cent of current electric vehicle charging happens at home. Last year the government launched the Road to Zero Strategy to “lead the world in zero emission vehicle technology” and said at least half of new cars should be ultra low emission by 2030.

But some transport experts say charging infrastructure nationally is a “postcode lottery” and electric and hybrid drivers still face obstacles including different membership schemes to access chargers, occupied charging stations and slow charging times.

Last month City of York Council bosses approved plans for hyper hubs at Monks Cross and Poppleton Bar Park&Rides.

Under the £1.5 million scheme, eight charging points would be built at each site and drivers could refuel their vehicles in just 15 minutes. Up to 200 people could use each hub every day.

Solar canopies would also be installed over the car park and the energy they collect would be used to charge vehicles or stored in batteries.